Meta Tests Much In-Demand Pause Feature For Instagram Reels

Tech giant Meta is finally answering thousands of Instagram users' prayers for a pause button on Reels.

The company shared how it's testing the latest pause feature on Reels that gives users the chance to start and stop a video with a single tap. This new offering is the latest indicator that Meta is trying to make the most of TikTok’s uncertain future in the US that still remains in limbo.

TikTok did go dark for a brief period and that’s when Meta chose to make the most of this golden opportunity by rolling out some new changes that might attract more people to the Instagram app. This new pause button seems to be aligned in a similar direction.

TikTok is still banned from the App and Google Play Store. It’s still questionable if it will choose to divest and sell off 50% of its ownership rights to an American buyer or opt out of the US market as a whole.

We saw Instagram only gives users the chance to stop or pause a reel by simply holding on to the screen. This required more work than just pressing on an option to pause the video as seen on TikTok. In the past, a single tap on the Reel for Instagram would just mute the audio but the video would still be on display. Now, Instagram Reels would be paused through a single click which is a relief for many.

Thousands of Instagram users shared their thoughts on the matter and how they had been looking for such a feature for a long time. Their requests are finally being taken into consideration, which Meta says was a long time coming. The demand was particularly high when TikTok went offline.

Other than this new feature for a pause button, Meta shared how it would be rolling out a new platform for editing content called Edits. This will go head to head-with the CapCut editing platform from ByteDance. The app will reportedly undergo a launch next month as per the head of Instagram who shared the glad tidings in a new post.

The company is also making ways for more creators to promote their Instagram content on other apps like Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts. We saw the company’s shares go up a little on Thursday after it rolled out a successful earning report for the fourth quarter. This beat out the estimates made by expert analysts.

When asked more about the ban on TikTok impacting the success of Meta’s apps positively, CEO Mark Zuckerberg said that the company was focusing more on growing its Reels for Instagram and Facebook. This is regardless of the outcome seen for TikTok in the US.

However, the unpredictable future of TikTok in America is clearly motivating Meta to make the most of this golden opportunity for new success.

Image: DIW-Aigen

Read next: Threads Announces New Media Tab for Photos and Videos
Previous Post Next Post