Facebook has finally brought Reels to its main app and it chose
the timing cleverly; just when TikTok announced that it has reached one billion
active users on its platform. Reels on Facebook is accessible to users in the
US only, for now.
Facebook began its test of integrating Reels in its app in
March and selected users in India for it. The social company has shared details
about Reels on Facebook, such as the tools and options available within Reels.
Reels on Facebook will consist of music, audio, effects, and
other tools. Users can access Reels in their Facebook News Feed, as well as
Groups. Options like liking, commenting, and sharing will also be available for
Reels clips.
Facebook is also adding a new option to Groups called Single
Theme, with which members of Groups will be able to prompt other members to
share their Reels in the Group. For instance, someone could start a trend of
posting Reels of your funny cat moments, and others can follow along. This is a
smart engagement tactic, as it can boost interaction within the Groups
community.
Facebook further added that “people can discover reels based on their interests and what’s popular both at the top of News Feed alongside Stories and Rooms and in a new, dedicated News Feed section.”
Another way that Facebook is using to make Reels more
discoverable is prompting Instagram users to allow their Reels to be recommended
to users on Facebook, so as to “grow their audience.”
While TikTok has a much larger user count, Facebook has an
advantage over its rival app due to owning two different platforms where Reels
is accessible. Moreover, with Facebook’s better monetization system, it has the
opportunity to better incentivize Reels content. To be exact, Facebook’s new
bonus program is going to help creators on its platform to make money from
receiving views on their Reels.
“The ‘Reels Play’ program will pay a bonus to eligible
Facebook creators whose Reels get at least 1000 views over a 30-day period on
Facebook,” specified the social company.
