Instagram Tests In-Stream Performance Tips for Reels

Instagram is exploring a new feature that provides in-stream performance tips for Reels, aimed at helping creators understand why certain clips resonate well with audiences. By tapping through on the prompts, users can access specific breakdowns of performance metrics, which may aid in refining future Reels based on past successes.

While the feature appears to be tailored primarily for creators, its implementation could spark greater interest in Reels among general users. Currently, Instagram’s focus on Reels is notable, as this format has become Meta’s fastest-growing content type, accumulating over 200 billion cumulative views daily. Given that Carousels (and, by extension, Reels) are dominating performance metrics when compared to regular posts, it makes sense for Meta to push for even more Reels improvements.

This growth is fueled by Meta’s AI-driven recommendation system, which now plays a significant role in what users see in their feeds. With more than 50% of content being suggested by the algorithm rather than from selected profiles, this algorithm is a massive part of the content that each user sees, so these in-stream insights could be invaluable for understanding how the AI selects and displays content overall.

Although these performance tips are not yet live and may not be widely released – they are, after all, still being tested – they have a lot of potential. As Instagram continues to prioritize short-form video content that only gets more popular over time, understanding the factors influencing reach and engagement will be crucial for individual content creators and brand accounts alike.