Instagram Reels replies are introduced. This is great news for Instagram users who have been hoping to reply to comments with Reels. Reels allow users to provide their own unique visual response to a photo or video.
We love the communities that creators have built on Instagram. ?❤️
That’s why we’re excited to launch Reels Visual Replies, a new feature to interact with your audience. You can now reply to comments with Reels and the comment will pop up as a sticker. pic.twitter.com/dA3qj1lAwE
— Instagram (@instagram) December 10, 2021
As you can see in this example, now, when you reply to a comment on a post, you’ll also have the option to tap on the blue Reels button to create a video reply, which will then appear as a sticker that you can send to the commentator.
Here’s another look at the process in action (via @TheBKH):
On Instagram You can now reply to comments with a Reels pic.twitter.com/HJNnvxw2Gt
— The BKH ?? (@thebkh) December 10, 2021
Instagram Reels replies and Tiktok
It’s yet another way to boost engagement on Instagram, while also leaning into the short-form video trend. It’s almost identical to the same feature that TikTok added in June last year.
@tiktok Want to reply to a comment with a video? Now you can! Available now for all users!
Instagram has added some new color options to the sticker pack, but essentially it’s the same thing. Given Instagram’s more recent history, that’s pretty much par for the course – though you will be able to reply to comments on regular posts and videos with Reels too, which expands the function a little.
On one hand, it feels a little cheap, a little stale maybe to see it simply re-create what TikTok already does.
