Instagram introduced a new feature allowing users to play Reels at 2x speed by long-pressing on either the right or left side of the screen during playback. 

The global rollout addresses what Social Media Today notes as a requested feature from Instagram’s community.

“Today, we’re globally launching the ability to play an Instagram Reel at 2x speed,” Instagram announced. “We hope being able to fast forward helps give you more control over your Reels experience as you connect with friends over content you love and enjoy.”

Video Length Timeline

Both Instagram Reels and TikTok initially limited videos to 15 seconds. As TikTok gained popularity, it extended video length and introduced speed controls to help users consume longer content more efficiently. Instagram similarly expanded its maximum Reel length to 3 minutes in January.

TechCrunch notes the speed option potentially increases the likelihood of viewers watching longer Reels to completion, addressing concerns that short-form video platforms may be impacting attention spans.

Implementation Details

The feature offers a binary speed choice—normal or 2x—with no intermediate options currently available. Users activate the faster playback by holding down on either edge of the screen, and the video returns to normal speed upon release. The traditional option to skim ahead in Reels is still available.

According to TechCrunch, this addition follows Instagram’s pattern of adopting features popularized by TikTok, where 2x playback speed is already available. Previous instances include Instagram’s Remix feature, which mirrors TikTok’s Duet tool.

According to creator marketing agency Billion Dollar Boy, U.S. creators quickly shifted content production to Instagram Reels following the Supreme Court’s January 19 ban on TikTok.

Instagram Reels witnessed a 16% increase in creator posts following the ban while maintaining relatively stable viewership with only a 4% decline in average views per video. This performance contrasts with YouTube Shorts, which saw a 14% rise in content but an 18% drop in average views.

TikTok usage among creators remained largely unchanged, with only a 3% decrease in posts, though the platform recorded a 9% reduction in average views per video after the ban.