Instagram has announced a new feature that allows creators to test their reel ideas on random audiences before sharing them with their followers. This innovative tool, dubbed "Trial Reels," aims to help users try out new content styles and expand their audiences without negatively impacting their established following on the platform.

The trial reels will be shown to non-followers first, providing engagement data including views, likes, comments, and shares approximately 24 hours after publishing. This data will help creators determine whether it's worth sharing the content with their existing followers. The feature is designed to alleviate the anxiety creators may feel when posting new or experimental content, fearing it may not resonate with their audience.

According to Instagram, the goal of trial reels is to give creators the freedom to explore new genres, storytelling formats, or topics without worrying about the potential backlash from their followers. "We often hear from creators that they feel nervous about posting too much to their audience or trying out new content that's outside of their niche on Instagram, for fear of it not resonating with their followers," Instagram said in its announcement.

Trial reels will be rolling out starting today and will be globally available to "all eligible creators in the coming weeks." To access the feature, creators can enable the "Trial" toggle before publishing a regular reel. The trial reel will appear alongside a user's drafts once live, but only the creator will be able to see that it's a trial. The reel won't appear on their main grid or reels tab, or in the feeds or reels tabs of their followers.

Creators can choose to share the trial reel with their followers if it's performing well or set Instagram to automatically share it based on the views it receives within the first 72 hours. Instagram will also provide insights that monitor how trials are performing compared to previous trials that the user has shared, giving creators a better understanding of what works and what doesn't.

This new feature has significant implications for content creators on the platform, as it allows them to experiment with new ideas and formats without risking their reputation or audience engagement. It also opens up opportunities for creators to expand their reach and attract new followers who may be interested in their experimental content.

As Instagram continues to evolve and adapt to the changing needs of its users, the introduction of trial reels marks a significant step forward in empowering creators to take risks and push the boundaries of what's possible on the platform. With this feature, Instagram is poised to become an even more attractive platform for creators looking to innovate and grow their audiences.