Instagram, a video-sharing streaming platform owned by Meta, has launched its standalone ‘Edits’ video creation app that offers similar features to TikTok and its parent ByteDance. The new Instagram app allows creators to organise project ideas, shoot and edit videos, and access insights about content.
While announcing the launch on Tuesday via a blog post, Instagram explained that the Edit app was created to help users express their creativity and build the best creative tool on any platform.
“The process of making videos can be challenging, often requiring multiple apps and complicated workflows. With Edits, you now have a dedicated space with powerful capabilities for video creation…This is only the first step on this journey, and we can’t wait to evolve and improve Edits with your feedback,” Instagram added.
The Edits app also includes other features like background replacement, editing, and exporting watermark-free images without leaving the app, automatic captioning, and artificial intelligence tools that can turn images into videos.
“There’s a lot going on in the world right now and no matter what happens, we think it’s our job to create the most compelling creative tools for those of you who make videos for not just Instagram but for platforms out there,” said Adam Mosseri, the head of Instagram, in a Reel posted in January announcing the app.
Also Read: Instagram explores standalone Reels app to rival TikTok amid uncertainty.
In January 2025, Meta shared insights on its plans to launch Edits in March 2025. The launch now signifies attempts by Meta to make Instagram an all-encompassing platform offering a number of experiences to creators.
The development comes amid an antitrust case filed by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC). It claimed that Meta allegedly bought Instagram in 2012 and WhatsApp in 2014 to eliminate competition and give itself a monopoly. If found guilty, the company might be forced to sell Instagram and WhatsApp.
Instagram and TikTok’s continued rivalry
Edits appear to be Meta’s answer to CapCut, TikTok’s sister app owned by China-based parent company ByteDance. CapCut allows users to create and edit videos on their phone or computer.
With TikTok’s future uncertain, Instagram’s move to launch Edits could be seen as a step to gain ground in the next era of short video creation in the creator economy.
In February, Meta said it was considering launching a standalone application dedicated to its short-form video feature, Reels. The proposed app would aim to deliver a seamless, TikTok-like video-scrolling experience, which will position Instagram to capture a larger share of the short-form video market.
The consideration of a standalone Reels app marked another challenge to TikTok’s dominance in the short-form video space.
Reels, originally launched within the Instagram app in August 2020, was a response to TikTok’s meteoric rise. Since its debut, Reels has grown significantly, with Meta reporting in its latest earnings call that users spend an increasing amount of time engaging with the feature.
While Mark Zuckerberg, Meta’s owner, has often placed TikTok as a direct competitor to Instagram, the launch of Edit further solidifies an attempt at a competitive market war. It also comes amid TikTok’s uncertain future in the U.S. as Meta’s leadership has signalled preparedness for an influx of users should TikTok falter.
Recall that earlier this month, President Donald Trump for a second time extended the deadline for ByteDance to divest TikTok’s U.S. operations or face an effective ban. The deadline is now mid-June.
TikTok has been caught in a dilemma over the 2024 “sell or ban” law amid years of allegations from the former President Joe Biden administration that TikTok’s ties to China pose a national security risk and that it exposes Americans’ sensitive information to the Chinese government.
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