Facebook Reels Launched Globally in 150 Countries to Rival TikTok

Facebook is launching its quick video characteristic Reels to greater than 150 international locations, its proprietor Meta Platforms mentioned on Tuesday, in a transfer to increase its quickest rising content material format.

The social media big, which not too long ago misplaced a 3rd of its market worth after a dismal earnings report, has highlighted Reels as a key precedence.

Meta launched Reels on Instagram in 2020 and on Facebook in 2021 as its reply to the explosively fashionable short-video app TikTok, which is owned by Chinese tech big ByteDance.

“Reels is already our fastest growing content format by far, and today we’re making it available to everyone on Facebook globally,” Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg mentioned in a Facebook submit on Tuesday.

The firm, which says video now accounts for half of the time individuals spend on Facebook, additionally introduced new methods for creators to generate profits via the Reels characteristic.

It mentioned it was increasing its programme to pay creators bonuses to extra international locations and was testing overlay adverts utilizing banners and stickers for creators to earn advert income. It would roll out full-screen adverts between Reels quickly.

Meta mentioned throughout its newest earnings that it had confronted hits from Apple’s privateness adjustments to its working system, which have made it more durable for manufacturers to focus on and measure their commercials on Facebook and Instagram. It additionally cited macroeconomic points like supply-chain disruptions.

The 18-year-old tech behemoth final month additionally warned it expects slowing income progress within the coming quarter attributable to elevated competitors for customers’ time and a shift of engagement towards options like Reels, which generate much less income.

In its Tuesday announcement, Meta additionally mentioned it might roll out updates for customers to make and see Facebook Reels in new locations, reminiscent of in its Stories characteristic, its Watch tab and on the high of the information feed. In some international locations, customers may also see prompt Reels of their feed.

© Thomson Reuters 2022