You can use Instagram on more than just your phone now. The social network is moving into your living room in a big way. It has released a new app that lets you watch its popular short videos on the biggest screen in your house.
Instagram for TV is the name of this new experience. It is starting out as a pilot on Amazon Fire TV devices. It is the platform’s first step away from mobile. The goal is to change the way people watch Reels with their friends and family.
Instagram expands to the living room with a new TV app
People in the US can now use Instagram for TV. You can get the app from the Amazon Appstore on Fire TV devices that work with it. Some examples are the Fire TV Stick 4K Max, the Fire TV Omni QLED Series, and others. Instagram has teamed up with Amazon for its first TV project to make the Fire TV platform more personalized.
Personalized video channels are the main feature of the app. Reels are not just one long feed; they are grouped into categories like comedy, music, sports, and travel. You can find these channels based on the content and creators you already follow and like on your mobile app. Videos play on their own, so you can surf channels without having to touch anything.
Shared viewing is a big deal for Instagram. The people in charge of the company said they made the app because users told them that watching Reels is more fun with other people. The TV app can support up to five different Instagram accounts on one device, making it a household feature. If they like, users can also make a new account just for watching TV.
This change puts it in more direct competition with sites like YouTube and TikTok, which are already popular on TV. Adam Mosseri, the head of Instagram, has said that the company wishes it had looked into making a TV app sooner. The launch is now a test in the U.S., but it will soon be available in more countries and on more TV devices.
In short, Instagram is betting that its short videos will work in the living room when it launches Instagram for TV. This growth beyond the phone could have a big effect on how people find and enjoy content from their favorite creators.
