Meta Platforms announced that all new videos uploaded on Facebook will soon be categorized as Reels. This change aims to simplify video publishing on the platform.

The company shared the update on June 17, 2025. It will remove length and format restrictions for Reels, allowing for short, long, and live videos.

Videos uploaded before this change will remain unchanged. New uploads will automatically be classified as Reels.

The existing video tab on Facebook will be renamed the Reels tab. Users will be prompted to confirm or update their audience settings if their current feed posts and Reels have different configurations.

Meta also plans to introduce additional creative tools as part of this update. The changes will be rolled out globally to profiles and pages over the coming months.

🔗 Source: Reuters

🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ Meta’s video strategy represents an evolution beyond format wars

Facebook’s move to classify all videos as Reels signals a strategic shift away from format segmentation toward a unified video approach.

This continues Meta’s pattern of platform evolution, transforming from a basic social network in the early 2000s to a comprehensive platform-as-infrastructure supporting various functionalities and services 1.

The consolidation follows years of experimentation with different video formats, reflecting the broader industry’s recognition that content value transcends format limitations.

By removing length restrictions on Reels, Meta is acknowledging how artificial the boundaries between “short-form” and “long-form” content have become for both creators and viewers.

This approach differs from competitors like YouTube, which maintains clearer separation between Shorts and standard videos, potentially giving Meta a simplicity advantage in the creator economy.

2️⃣ The reclassification reflects intense competition in the short-form video space

Meta’s decision comes amid fierce competition between major platforms, with TikTok leading in average views per video (18,173) compared to Instagram Reels (16,152) and YouTube Shorts (646) 2.

The engagement battle is particularly intense, with YouTube Shorts showing a 5.91% engagement rate, TikTok at 5.75%, and Instagram Reels at 5.53% 2.