Instagram users probably noticed a new icon in the right corner of your Instagram feed last week.
This is IGTV (Instagram TV), a new feature inside the platform intended for making and viewing longer videos (up to 60 minutes). This ‘mobile first’ platform is built for how you actually use your phone, so videos are full screen and vertical. In the future, there will eventually be no time limits, however when that time comes, so will the ads.
The purpose of IGTV is a fusion of the traditional TV experience with modern methods of video production and streaming. Using IGTV, anyone can create content – not only those who can afford to buy expensive recording equipment.
The platform is easy to use both inside the Instagram app and as a standalone IGTV app.
IGTV has an extremely intuitive interface and starts playing content suggested by the algorithm as soon as you open the app. At the moment, you can browse through the following three categories:
You can also use the search option to look for videos.
IGTV keeps you informed about new content and lets you know when someone you are following uploads a new video.
You can comment on people’s videos in IGTV while playing them (similar to FB live video). If you don’t want to continue watching a video, just swipe to the side to move on to the next one. Welcome to the ‘binge watching’ culture! :)
IGTV is Instagram’s way of encouraging its users to create their own videos, here and now, without any special preparations, and using just their phones.
Do you think IGTV will find its own place within the vast selection of web platforms, will it be able to stand up to the giant YouTube, and will this project perhaps completely replace the classical TV for the younger audiences? We are looking forward to these changes. :)
Sources:
https://business.instagram.com/a/IGTV
https://later.com/blog/igtv/
