Instagram, the popular social media platform, has expanded its functionality globally, allowing users to download public Reels directly to their camera rolls. This feature, which was initially launched in the United States in June, has now been made available to Instagram users worldwide, marking a significant enhancement in the platform’s content-sharing capabilities.
Adam Mosseri, the CEO of Instagram, announced this new feature, emphasizing its similarity to TikTok’s download functionality. Users can now easily access the download option under the share button for Reels from public accounts. To maintain the integrity of the creators’ work, the downloaded Reels are watermarked with the original poster’s Instagram username, ensuring proper credit is given.
The update applies universally to all public accounts on Instagram. However, for users under the age of 18 with public accounts, the download feature is initially deactivated. These younger users have the flexibility to activate it at their convenience, aligning with Instagram’s commitment to safeguarding the privacy and accessibility of its younger audience. For adult users, the feature is readily available, allowing them to download and share Reels freely unless the account owner modifies their download settings.
Instagram has established rules in its official FAQ to protect the privacy and accessibility of Reels. Public account holders can manage their download settings, providing them control over whether or not their followers can download their Reels. This management includes the ability to customize download settings for specific posts or for the entire account. For private accounts, however, Reels downloads are restricted, ensuring that content remains private unless the account owner chooses to make their account public.
To manage download settings, users can navigate to ‘Advanced Settings‘ while uploading a Reel and toggle the ‘Allow people to download your reels‘ option on or off. This choice can be applied to all Reels or only to specific uploads. The downloaded Reels will include an Instagram watermark, the username of the original poster, and audio attribution, further respecting the creators’ rights. It is also important to note that the original audio from a Reel is eligible to be included in a downloaded Reel only if the original containing that specific audio is downloadable.
With the new feature, users worldwide can now share downloaded Reels through other platforms, broadening the scope of content distribution beyond Instagram. This update not only aligns Instagram more closely with TikTok’s features but also provides creators with crucial controls over their content’s privacy and distribution. The introduction of this feature represents a significant step for Instagram in enhancing user experience and content interaction on its platform.
