The huge success of TikTok’s full-screen short video format seems to have hit Instagram quite a bit. Instagram is currently testing full-screen mode on its home screen. The goal is to provide an immersive experience similar to that of TikTok, with videos taking up the entire screen.
Instagram wants users to spend more time watching videos. Users on Facebook spend 50 percent of their time watching videos. For Instagram, this rate is currently around 20 percent.
When in full screen video mode, users can access Reels, profile and shopping sections using the bar at the bottom. Adding new posts, viewing likes and Messenger/DM options are also available in the top bar. The only thing removed is the Stories bar. To view it, it is enough to scroll down a little.
The full-screen mode on Instagram is currently in testing and there’s no word on when the feature will be generally available.