Every social media platform has, at one point or another, replicated a feature from their competitors.
Now on the hot seat is Instagram, who is reportedly testing a new feature that is eerily similar to the viral app TikTok.
Recently, reverse engineering expert Jane Manchun Wong discovered that Instagram is attempting to replicate a feature that competitor TikTok claims.
Noticed by Wong is a feature from Instagram reportedly called “Clips.”
“Just like TikTok, “Clips” allows users to record segments of videos into a single video Story. Just like TikTok, users can overlay music on clips. Just like TikTok, users can adjust the speed and timer of each video clips.”
So as Facebook has done time and time again, it adds another feature that seeks to hold off competition from other social platforms. With Facebook boasting 2.7 billion active users across its various apps (Instagram included), it’s not surprising that they are focused to limiting the number of users that leave for new platforms.
Their concern is certainly valid, with TikTok becoming increasingly more popular over the past year–specifically with younger generations. The platform maintains that they have a steady 500 million active users, however, there is a trend that a “significant majority” of those users revert back to their familiar social networks within 30 days on TikTok.
It will certainly be interesting to watch as Instagram further develops this feature, and to see if they will be successful in fending off TikTok’s viral draw.
What do you think of the ‘Clips’ option? Do you think TikTok will become more popular? Let us know!