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Instagram is taking its short-form video experience out of your pocket and onto the big screen. The company has launched a new app called Instagram for TV that currently focuses on streaming Reels, with more features promised down the line.
Reels optimized for your TV — what you need to know
At launch, Instagram for TV is available for testing in the US on Amazon Fire TV devices. The app is built specifically for living-room viewing: Reels are grouped into channels based on your interests, making it easy to surf categories rather than single clips. You can add up to five accounts to the app or create a dedicated TV-only account if you prefer a separate viewing profile.
Search and discovery made simple
Discovery is a focus. Instagram for TV includes a search feature so users can hunt for creators, topics, and profiles from the couch. That means you can quickly find a favorite creator or dive into a niche feed without pulling out your phone.
New features coming — remote control, shared feeds and navigation
Instagram says this is just the beginning. Planned updates include using your phone as a remote control, shared feeds for watching with friends and improved navigation tailored to TV screens. Those additions aim to make the app feel less like a port and more like a purpose-built TV experience.
Safety and ratings: teen protections from mobile carried over
Instagram for TV follows a PG-13 rating model and applies the same teen-safety protections available on Instagram’s mobile app. That includes restrictions on content, comments and profiles that are deemed inappropriate for users under 18, giving parents and teens familiar guardrails on the bigger display.
- Current availability: US testing on Amazon Fire TV.
- Content focus: Reels only for now, organized into interest channels.
- User profiles: Up to five accounts or a TV-only account option.
- Planned tools: phone-as-remote, shared viewing, better navigation.
- Safety: PG-13 rating and mobile-equivalent teen protections.
Imagine tossing your phone aside and letting a steady stream of short videos play on your TV — that’s the idea behind Instagram for TV. For now it’s limited and experimental, but the roadmap suggests Instagram wants its Reels ecosystem to be as comfortable on the sofa as it is on the subway.
Source: gsmarena
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