Instagram is allowing users to download Reels posted by others so they can share them outside the app, the tech giant’s head Adam Mosseri said on his Instagram broadcast channel.
Mosseri indicated that the US-based users will be able to download Reels to their camera roll by tapping on the share icon and then selecting the Download option.
The head also noted that Reels from only public accounts are eligible for download. Moreover, public accounts can turn off the ability to download Reels.
However, Mosseri did not reveal if there will be a watermark on the downloaded Reel or not, as the picture he posted indicates that the downloaded video will show an Instagram logo along with the account name.
In 2021, Instagram halted promoting content with a TikTok watermark (or any watermark) on videos.
Last August, YouTube also started including a logo-based watermark on downloaded Shorts to discourage cross-platform sharing.
Therefore, Instagram’s step could be a tactic to attract people to watch more content on the platform.