- Instagram is reportedly considering launching Reels as a standalone app amid uncertainty over TikTok’s future in the US.
- Meta has not commented on the potential move, which was reportedly discussed by Instagram chief Adam Mosseri.
- The US government continues to pressure TikTok over national security concerns, while opponents argue against a ban on free speech grounds.
Instagram is reportedly exploring the possibility of launching Reels as a standalone app, as uncertainty looms over the future of Chinese-owned TikTok in the US.
According to The Information, Instagram chief Adam Mosseri informed staff of the potential move this week, citing an individual who was present during the discussion. Meta, Instagram’s parent company, has yet to respond to a request for comment from the BBC.
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The uncertainty surrounding TikTok stems from US regulatory pressures. In January, President Donald Trump granted the platform a 75-day extension to comply with a law—originally signed by then-President Joe Biden—mandating either a sale or a ban. At the time, Trump floated the idea of a 50-50 partnership between the US and ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent company, though he did not elaborate on how such a deal would be structured.
The Biden administration had previously argued that TikTok, which boasts 170 million users in the US, posed national security risks due to concerns over potential data access by the Chinese government. However, opponents of a ban have cited freedom of speech concerns in advocating for the platform’s continued operation.
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Meta has previously attempted to compete with TikTok through standalone apps. In 2018, it launched Lasso, a short-form video platform designed to rival TikTok, but the project was ultimately discontinued.
