Reels Becomes More Engaging as Meta Prepares Episodic Video Features
Meta is testing a new feature named ‘Series’ for Reels on Instagram and Facebook to make it easier for users to follow episodic content. This feature allows creators to group multiple Reels into a single connected story or episode sequence.
In the initial testing phase, a selection of chosen creators can create a series using both new and previously uploaded Reels. Each Reel acts as an episode within a larger narrative, displayed in a dedicated content hub on the creator’s profile. This experience mimics features already available on TikTok.
The launch of the Series feature demonstrates Meta’s effort to support more sustainable content consumption, moving beyond the brief viewing sessions typical of short-form video formats. Through organised series, the social media giant hopes to encourage repeat viewing habits and build stronger user engagement.
For creators, this new feature offers a more organised way to release episodic videos, such as tutorials and challenges. According to TechCrunch, Meta has also revealed that it is considering ways to monetise the Series feature, although the specific mechanism has not yet been disclosed.
The launch of Series is viewed by some as a late move, as Instagram’s strong competitor, TikTok, launched a similar feature in 2023. That feature allows creators to upload collections of premium content behind a paywall, requiring users to purchase access. It is possible that Meta will adopt a similar strategy in the future.
According to Meta, current trends in episodic content show significant growth. Consequently, the Series feature is designed to help users easily follow every episode within a content sequence. For example, if a creator produces a ‘10 days to healthier baking’ series, they can combine all 10 videos into one series. The series will appear in a new tab on the creator’s profile with a dedicated page containing all episodes, allowing users to find and watch them sequentially.
When users encounter an episode from a series via their feed or the Reels tab, they will see an option to open the full series and access other episodes. Users also have the option to save a series for later or receive updates.
Previously, Meta was reported to have laid off approximately 8,000 employees, roughly 10 per cent of its total staff, as part of an effort to reallocate resources towards other areas, such as aggressive investments in Artificial Intelligence (AI).