Instagram monthly active users reaches 1 billion for the first time

In addition, clips will not be limited to one minute like regular Instagram videos. On Wednesday, the Facebook-owned social media app launched a new long-form video app called IGTV, allowing users to upload videos as short as 15 seconds or as long as 60 minutes. Since then, Instagram added a number of new features including Stories, which was admittedly copied from Snapchat.

[Photo: courtesy of Instagram] Instagram stars such as Lele Pons, who has 25 million followers and appeared onstage at today’s event, will presumably like the opportunity to share longer-form content with their fans. The IGTV app will play content immediately upon opening it and there will be separate sections for the people you follow as well as what’s popular at the moment.

Today, yet another video service debuts, and it is backed by a major player in the social network space – Instagram. Everything is mobile-oriented, meaning videos are in portrait mode. Total spending on online video ads in the U.S.is expected to rise from almost $18 billion this year to $27 billion in 2021, according to eMarketer.

Yet Facebook’s efforts to court viewers with YouTube-like channels has failed to catch interest. Users will have access to comments, related content and other features taken from Instagram on IGTV. “Marketers see YouTube as an obvious opportunity”. He said that the creators are working hard for the platform, therefore it is only right that they are compensated for the content in the future. They can also be up to one hour long. To promote this, Instagram is likely to start a monetising platform for the creators, potentially including ad revenue shares.

It’s been said that Instagram wants to attract “web celebrities” to IGTV, rather than traditional media companies or publishing firms. IGTV has channels but the creators are the channels.

Courting stars to post videos is part of their strategies.

Vertical video is the only supported format for IGTV.

Instagram is launching its own video platform to compete with YouTube following an announcement where the company revealed it had surpassed 1 billion users.

Rumors have circulated over the past few months suggesting that Instagram was preparing to allow longer videos on its platform.

“It’s mobile first, it’s simple and it’s quality”, Instagram Chief Executive Kevin Systrom said during an event unveiling the service.