Instagram has announced a set of new features for Reels to empower creators to express their creativity, connect with their audience, and earn a living. One of the new features is a dedicated destination that allows creators to find inspiration through trending audio and hashtags on Instagram Reels. Creators can see the top trending songs and hashtags on Reels, tap in to use them or save them for their own content. Instagram is also adding two new metrics to Reels insights: total and average watch times. These metrics will help creators better understand how their content is performing and where viewers drop off, so they can adjust their hooks and keep viewers engaged.
In addition, Instagram is making it easier for creators to edit their reels on the platform. The new editing flow brings together video clips, audio, stickers, and text on a unified editing screen, making it easier to align and time elements of a reel to the right moments in a more visual way. Instagram is also expanding gifts on Reels to more countries, including Australia, Canada, France, Mexico, New Zealand, and the UK. Creators can now recognise their fans’ gifts by tapping the heart icon next to their supporters, and their supporters will get a notification that their gift has been seen and recognised.