Social media addiction is on the rise, with many individuals dedicating a substantial portion of their day to watching videos on platforms such as Reels, TikTok, and Shorts. However, this behavior can result in anxiety in situations where internet access is unavailable or when users run out of data for their internet packages. To address this, Instagram is introducing a Reels download feature, according to a post by Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri. This feature will provide a download option similar to YouTube Premium, allowing users to access and watch videos through the app without an internet connection.
The Instagram Reels download feature functions similarly to the download feature in YouTube Premium. Instead of occupying space in the device’s gallery, the downloaded videos are saved in a dedicated area within the app. This allows users to access the downloaded videos when offline or when they prefer not to use their data.
This feature is particularly beneficial for users who curate their favorite Reels in the saved section. Despite Mosseri’s announcement, the feature has not been globally rolled out yet, and it may take a few days to complete the process.
In June, Instagram began allowing Reels downloads for users in the United States, and now the feature is gradually expanding to users worldwide. However, the Instagram Reels download feature has sparked copyright debates. To address the issue of copyrighted music in downloaded videos, Instagram’s initial solution is to mute the sound. Additionally, the platform is dealing with the problem of video theft by muting the sound during the download of videos with copyrighted music.
Content creators face the challenge of protecting their work from being stolen, and while muting sound during downloads is a step in the right direction, Instagram may need to implement additional measures, such as watermarking, to further safeguard creators’ content.
