Instagram has announced an update to its video feature Reels, launching alongside news that the US Supreme Court upheld the ban on TikTok in the country on January 19. The new features aim to make it easier for users to discover content from friends and followers, while encouraging conversations about Reels.
The update includes a new “liked by” section on the top-right corner of the Reels tab, showcasing content that friends and followers have interacted with. This feature provides a visual representation of engagement, featuring profile pictures and interaction indicators (e.g., heart icon or conversation bubble). Users can now easily see who has liked or commented on their content.
Additionally, Instagram will introduce a “reply bar” at the bottom of Reels, allowing users to respond directly to friends’ likes. When responding, the message is sent as a direct message to the follower who initially interacted with the content. These new features aim to enhance user engagement and facilitate conversations about Reels.
Source: https://techcrunch.com/2025/01/17/instagram-reels-adds-new-features-as-tiktok-is-banned-in-the-us