If imitation is the highest form of flattery, TikTok must be tickled pink. Instagram this week co-opted yet another of the video-sharing app’s features, introducing Remix for Reels.
“Now you can use the Remix feature in Reels to create your own reel next to one that already exists,” Instagram tweeted on Wednesday. “Whether you’re capturing your reaction, responding to friends, or bringing your own magic to trends, Remix is another way to collab on Instagram.”
“So like TikTok Duets?” Zaid Admani wrote in response, driving his point home with a Spider-Man pointing at Spider-Man meme. Others followed, calling out Instagram for its lack of originality.
On the coattails of TikTok’s potential US ban last year, Facebook swooped in with Reels, inviting Instagrammers to record, share, and watch 15-second videos. The new feature, housed in the app’s Explore tab, boasts a music library and augmented reality effects.
Now, Instagram is doubling down on the function. To get started, select your preferred clip, tap the three-dot menu, and choose “Remix this Reel.” Shoot in real time or upload pre-recorded footage; you have the power to control original video volume, add a voiceover, and make fresh own edits. Only new Reels can be remixed; to modify older clips, open the menu and pick “Enable Remixing.”
This isn’t the first time Facebook has tried to outcompete TikTok. In 2018, the social network introduced Lasso, a standalone video sharing app that let people create 15-second clips using a smartphone and millions of licensed songs. The program was retired last summer—just ahead of Instagram’s Reels launch.
