Instagram is experimenting with a new tool called Templates, which will allow creators to create Reels by stealing forms from existing films on the network. The feature appears to be comparable to TikTok’s own templates tool, which allows users to drag and drop their own footage into pre-made sequences.
“We are always working on new ways to make Reels simpler to create. We are testing the ability for you to make a reel using an existing Template from another reel,” a Meta spokesperson confirmed.
Reverse engineer Alessandro Paluzzi previously discovered a version of the forthcoming feature in the app’s code in January, before marketing manager and influencer Josephine Hill tweeted about the feature in March. In a screenshot posted by Hill in March, it looks like users can swap their own clips into preset frames, as well as add their own audio. This could save users from using third-party templates from sites like Canva, or having to closely follow online tutorials to achieve a specific format, something Hill pointed out to Insider.
“One thing that I’ve been looking for, particularly with Instagram Reels, was something that resembles TikTok’s audio sync where the clips line up perfectly to the beat of the music,” Hill told Business Insider. She added that prior to using the new tool, she would typically find tutorials to guide her through lining up videos with sound.
The new feature appears to be an effort to encourage users to create videos directly in Instagram’s app, as opposed to uploading pre-made content from TikTok.
The test comes as Instagram tries to get more creators on Reels and solves one of its biggest problems: TikTok reposts. Last year, Instagram said it would stop promoting TikTok watermarked videos, and earlier this week, Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri announced that the platform would be taking tougher action by lowering share rates. Adding templates to the mix can make it easier to create videos on Reels and encourage more original content to be created.
