Facebook will soon share all videos as reels
It’s Meta's way of pushing users toward a more shareable, algorithm-friendly format.
Facebook is getting a lot like Instagram, except, well, it’s taking things to the extreme.
In a bold shift, Meta is turning every single video on Facebook into a Reel. Now, no matter how long or whatever resolution a video takes, it will be categorized and shared as Reels. There are no boundaries, no format restrictions, just one big, endless stream of video content under a single name.
Meta is saying that the reason for this change is to keep things simple for both creators and users. Previously, you had to make a conscious choice between uploading a standard video or a Reel.
But this change goes beyond ease. It’s Meta's way of pushing users toward a more shareable, algorithm-friendly format. As they put it, the Reels format, which is known for its viral, snackable content, will now include all types of videos, bringing together every moment under one label.
Oluwaseun Bamisile
In terms of algorithm, it’s great, but the shift might feel overwhelming, especially for those who have gotten used to Reels being short and already put longer videos elsewhere. On Instagram, for instance, Reels still have a cap of three minutes, but Facebook’s Reels will have no such boundaries. That means a random rave snippet, a friend’s quick story, and a 25-minute cooking tutorial could all show up as Reels. Sounds exhausting, to be honest.
With this approach, there are concerns over what will appear on one’s feed. But Meta is saying it won’t affect what videos are recommended to you, but the blending of formats might take some time getting used to. There’s also the privacy concern. Reels are typically public by default, while many Facebook users prefer to share their videos privately. But Meta has also mentioned that we will have control over the intended audience - a relief, at least.
Looking beyond, this is a larger push to keep users engaged and creators invested, especially as TikTok’s short-form videos continue to influence how we consume media. While TikTok has just about 1.6 billion monthly users, behind Facebook, which has about 3.1 billion monthly users, as reported by Soax, Facebook is taking proactive action before the mainstream media consumption takes away its audience.
