For the past few years, TikTok has undoubtedly been the most popular short-form video-sharing social media app, where people scroll through videos ranging from three seconds to a minute. But recently, Instagram’s own version of TikTok, Reels, has become popular, and in this article, we will compare the two apps.
Instagram Reels
One of the biggest facts that has contributed to the popularity of Reels is the recent attempts by the U.S. government to ban TikTok. TikTok is owned by the Chinese company ByteDance and many fear that the company is collecting users’ data and also is encouraging a hidden Chinese agenda. Instagram is owned by Meta, an American company, so people feel safer using it and it is not at risk of getting banned. Another reason people prefer Instagram Reels is that it is a feature on top of an already existing popular app. Instagram is arguably still more widely posted on than TikTok, and odds are if you are looking for a friend’s or organization’s posts they will be on Instagram and not TikTok. Instagram is just more local and more often posted on by the general public. A third big reason people have been migrating to Reels is the content. Many find Reels to be much funnier than TikTok in general. This may partially be because Instagram does not restrict and censor as much as TikTok, leading to more “edgy” jokes.
TikTok
TikTok is definitely considered the more “OG” of the two platforms. It has been around for nearly four years longer than Reels, and therefore many people find its software to be more advanced and developed. TikTok’s extensive music library, sound effects, and editing tools are all very easy to use, leading many to find it much easier to make content on TikTok compared to Reels. People also find it easier to connect and find people they share similar interests with on TikTok. The TikTok algorithm can lead you to find TikToks from communities that you are interested in, and it is easier to find more niche content specific to you as the algorithm is so advanced. People also find TikToks to be more diverse in general. Instagram Reels are mostly all humorous and are there to make you laugh, but TikToks on the other hand can be humorous but are also informative and can even be a source of the latest news.
Overall, both apps have their pros and cons, but it’s not like you have to choose one or the other. Depending on your mood, you can choose to watch either one. Both are unique in their own way and offer a different experience of the same general idea
