Meta-owned Instagram has once again borrowed a feature from its rival, TikTok, this time introducing the ability for users to play Reels at 2x speed. This feature, already available on TikTok, allows users to fast-forward through videos by long-pressing on the right or left side of their screen.

This move is not surprising, given Instagram's history of copying features from TikTok. Instagram Reels itself is a direct clone of TikTok's short-form video platform, and the platform has also borrowed other features, such as the Remix feature, which is a copy of TikTok's Duet tool. This latest addition further solidifies Instagram's reputation as a TikTok clone.

The 2x speed feature is likely a response to the changing user behavior on social media platforms. When TikTok first launched, videos could only be 15-seconds long, but as the platform grew in popularity, it rolled out support for longer videos. This led to the introduction of the speed-up feature, allowing users to consume content more quickly. Instagram Reels followed a similar path, starting with 15-second videos and eventually increasing the limit to 3 minutes.

The ability to fast-forward a video increases the chances of a viewer actually making it to the end of a longer video. This is particularly important for Instagram Reels, which are designed to provide users with quick, bite-sized pieces of entertainment. The rise of short-form video content has raised concerns about its impact on our attention spans and ability to focus on longer-form content. By allowing users to fast-forward through videos, Instagram is attempting to address these concerns.

This move also highlights the ongoing competition between Instagram and TikTok. As both platforms continue to evolve and add new features, it's clear that they're vying for user attention. Instagram's decision to copy TikTok's features is likely a bid to stay competitive and attract users who are drawn to TikTok's unique features.

It remains to be seen how users will respond to this new feature and whether it will have a significant impact on user engagement on the platform. However, one thing is clear: Instagram's continued copying of TikTok's features is a sign of the intense competition between the two platforms, and users are likely to be the ultimate beneficiaries of this rivalry.