A guy takes a photo of the instagram logo at Facebook headquarters. (Photo : Getty Images/Justin Sullivan)
For its users in the United States, photo and video sharing platform Instagram has added video channels on the Explore tab where users can check new content without disrupting their news feeds. As people like to share videos, Instagram is rolling out a new look for Explore that features video channels so that people can easily check on the videos they love.
The feature starts in the U.S., but will be available in other countries soon. The platform owned by Facebook starts to roll out updates for the Explore tab and users can download the 7.2 version from Google Play and Apple App stores. It said the new features will retain the functionality of the Explore tab.
"It connects you to posts about your interests from people you don't yet follow. The more you like, the better Explore gets, adjusting to your preferences and showing you more of the stuff you enjoy." Instagram said on its official blog.
The app determines user preferences through likes. The option "See Fewer Posts Like This" allows user to filter undesirable search results from their Explore tab the next time they use it. The "Videos You Might Like" contains the videos from the Instagram community and provides seamless video watching experience, while "Featured" channels has videos on specific topics.
The Facebook-owned app was focused on photos at first, then switched to videos and view counts as video views could draw revenue and video ads give more cash. The app is seen by marketers and brands as a potential for video sharing, even with its 15-second video limit, instead of just being photo-based.
Instagram has realized it may want to give brands organic exposure via its basic functions, BidnessETC reported. It can let its users know what is currently trending. Twitter posts breaking stories and Snapchat lets its users post photos and videos from live events, like concerts, in Live Stories which can be globally viewed.
If Instagram increases its duration for videos to half a minute, news channels can then post breaking news brief snippets on the platform. Unlike Snapchat which videos are present only for 24 hours, Instagram videos can be viewed repeatedly.
The Times of India's YouTube video below features the new update on the Explore tab of Instagram.
