Instagram chases YouTube with a push for longer, widescreen videos

Instagram is launching a new video format called 'Features' which allows for longer, widescreen videos, marking a shift towards TV-like content on the platform. The feature is currently being tested with a small group of creators in the US and Brazil. Instagram's boss, Adam Mosseri, has been against longform video on the platform but has changed his stance, citing a desire to make short and long-form video 'symbiotic'. The new feature is part of a broader push into longform video, building on the launch of Instagram's TV app last year, which has expanded to various smart TV platforms. The company is also testing other video-focused features, including clips pointing to long videos, series of Reels, and improved live video discovery.