Instagram Announces Tests for Long-Form 90-Minute Videos and Horizontal Playback

Instagram has announced plans to expand tests in the United States that will allow select creators to upload long-form videos up to 90 minutes in length and switch video orientation to horizontal. According to reports, the platform is also testing features designed for TV viewing and tools to connect short clips directly to full-length content.

Instagram Vice President of Product Tessa Lyons stated in an interview that the update aims to address the reality that entertainment extends beyond short formats. The initiative builds upon Instagram's existing strengths in short-form clips, such as podcast highlights commonly found on Reels, while attempting to create a centralized space for both discovery and long-form viewing.

Official Platform Feature and Policy

The announced expansion involves several key updates:

• Long-Form Uploads: Tests allow creators to upload videos up to 90 minutes long.
• Horizontal Orientation: Users and creators will have the option to flip video orientations to horizontal.
• Clip Linking: Creators can link short clips directly back to full-length videos.
• Series Feature: Episodic tools are being tested to organize content and recommend subsequent episodes based on viewing history.
• TV Integration: Instagram is exploring ways to bring social viewing to TV screens, including a Friends tab and turning smartphones into remotes.

Rollout and Eligible Accounts

• Current Status: Instagram has announced plans to expand these tests; they are not yet a globally available general release.
• Eligible Accounts/Regions: The tests are being expanded in the United States for select creators.
• Distinction from Past Features: Unlike the discontinued IGTV app launched in 2018 which strictly required vertical videos, the new approach accommodates both vertical discovery on mobile and horizontal long-form viewing on larger screens.

Creator and User Impact

For creators, the update offers a potential pathway to transition viewers from viral short clips into dedicated long-form audiences without requiring them to switch to a different platform. For users, the changes aim to streamline the viewing journey from discovering a short clip on a mobile feed to streaming the full episode later.

How to Verify

Readers and creators interested in official updates can verify platform feature availability directly through Meta's official Instagram blog or announcements published by authorized company spokespersons.