Image Credit: Bloomberg

Instagram has unveiled a new video editing app called Edits, coinciding with a temporary outage of TikTok in the US due to a federal ban. On the same day, Elon Musk’s X (formerly Twitter) also announced a new video tab for its mobile app.  

Meta Platforms Inc., Instagram's parent company, shared that Edits will be available in February, offering a comprehensive set of creative tools. According to Instagram head Adam Mosseri, users will be able to save video drafts, edit clips, and incorporate features such as green screens, overlays, and transitions.  

Instagram's announcement came shortly after TikTok was forced offline in the US following the enforcement of a national security law. The ban also affected other ByteDance Ltd. platforms like CapCut.

Although TikTok has since resumed service after President-elect Donald Trump paused the enforcement of the ban, its future remains uncertain as the law mandates the sale of its US operations. Trump has suggested facilitating a joint venture, with new US-based owners acquiring a 50% stake in the company.  

Meanwhile, X is expanding its video content offerings, introducing a dedicated video hub in its app for US users. The platform is positioning itself in areas like live streaming, video podcasts, and long-form interviews.  

Instagram, part of Mark Zuckerberg’s social media empire, is expected to benefit from the TikTok ban, especially since its Reels feature already attracts significant engagement in markets like the US and India. By launching Edits during TikTok’s period of uncertainty, Instagram aims to attract content creators looking for alternative platforms to edit and share their videos.  

Instagram also seized the opportunity by running advertisements in Apple’s App Store. Searches for “TikTok” led users to a promotion for Instagram, potentially capitalizing on TikTok’s brief downtime.

Paraphrasing text from "Bloomberg" all rights reserved by the original author