Instagram is testing a new feature that allows users to scrub through videos to more easily find the parts that interest them more.
Instagram limits the length of videos on its platform to a short 3-60 seconds, and that makes it ideal for quick video-viewing on the go. The short length also removes the necessity for video controls. In theory, that is.
One of Instagram’s most-requested features has been video controls other than play and pause, and up until now, these have only available within IGTV. This may be changing now, as a new video scrubbing feature was spotted recently. Serial social media feature-spotter – Jane Manchun Wong – Tweeted the feature earlier this week.
Instagram is testing video seekbar pic.twitter.com/gyIZZhrh2y
— Jane Manchun Wong (@wongmjane) March 27, 2019
There is no news as to when the feature would be rolling out to everyone, but according to some users it’s already available on the latest Instagram Beta update. This could mean that a wider release is imminent. As is, the feature is a bare-bones implementation that certainly could use some refining, but Instagram also needs to think about the repercussions.
As Wong explains, “It’d be a plus if it shows the frame preview while scrubbing through the video,” but this “might cause some performance regressions” she says. But “it’s something to think about UX wise.”
My question would be whether the new feature could be a sign that Instagram is about to increase its maximum video length. What do you think?
You might also like
More from Instagram
Leaked: Instagram Is Working On An AI Chatbot
Images leaked by app researcher Alessandra Paluzzi show that Instagram is working on an AI chatbot. According to the images shared …
Instagram Introduces Search Ads Via Its Marketing API
Instagram Search Ads are now available to all advertisers via the Instagram marketing API. Just two months after it began to …
Instagram’s New Twitter Competitor Revealed
Instagram's rumored text-based Twitter competitor still does not have a name, but now we know what it might look like. The …
Instagram Now Lets Everyone Use GIFs In Comments
Instagram is now letting every user comment on posts and Reels with GIFs. I think we can all agree that if …
You Can Now Add Songs To Your Instagram Photo Carousels
Instagram says it is testing a new feature that lets users add songs to the photo carousels they share on …
Instagram Now Lets You Add Up To 5 ‘Links In Bio’
Instagram is rolling out a new feature for adding up to 5 'links in bio' - a feature doomed to …
Instagram Collaborative Collections Are The New Way To Save And Share Content With Your Friends
Instagram is introducing a new 'Save posts with friends' that lets you create a collaborative collection for you and your …
Instagram Is Testing A ‘Top 3’ Sticker To Boost Engagement
According to reports, Instagram is testing a new Top 3 sticker for Stories, allowing users to highlight favorite accounts, places, …