Meta Considers Launching a Standalone “Reels” App to Compete with TikTok!

In a move that could reshape the short-form video market, Meta is considering separating the “Reels” feature from Instagram and launching it as an independent app, in a direct attempt to compete with TikTok.

According to a report by The Information, Instagram head Adam Mosseri discussed this possibility during a meeting with employees last week. However, Meta has not yet officially confirmed the decision.

Political Pressures and Their Impact on the Decision

This potential move comes amid growing U.S. concerns about TikTok, which has over 170 million American users. There are suspicions that the app could be used for data collection or political influence. Former U.S. President Donald Trump previously suggested a partnership between the U.S. government and TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, but no official action has been taken so far.

What Would Meta Gain from This Move?

If Meta decides to launch Reels as a standalone app, Instagram could focus more on its other features, such as photos and stories, while Reels strengthens its position as a short-form video platform.

Will This Strategy Succeed?

Meta has previously attempted to challenge TikTok with the launch of Lasso in 2018, but the app failed and was eventually shut down. More recently, Meta introduced Edits, a video editing app seen as a direct competitor to ByteDance’s CapCut.

This move indicates Meta’s growing commitment to providing better tools for content creators. The company has previously acknowledged that it was late in recognizing the popularity of short-form videos as a primary means of communication—a gap that TikTok successfully exploited to dominate the market.

Sources:

AIT News

Shafaq News

Al Arabiya