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What you need to know
Instagram is set to unveil Edits, a new app designed to compete directly with CapCut when it launches next month. Users can currently pre-order the app through the Apple App Store, with plans for availability on Google Play Store to follow shortly after. This initiative is part of Meta’s broader strategy to leverage the current uncertainties surrounding TikTok and related ByteDance applications, such as CapCut.
Meta and Instagram are strategically positioning themselves amidst the turmoil faced by ByteDance applications, with the introduction of Edits. The announcement comes on the heels of a recent TikTok ban that took effect on January 19, leaving many creators and video editors surprised, particularly users of CapCut, a widely used vertical editing tool. Adam Mosseri, head of Instagram, revealed details of the Edits app on the same day the ByteDance apps were impacted by the ban.
In an Instagram Reels clip dedicated to the app’s announcement, Mosseri emphasized the timing, stating, “There’s a lot going on right now, but no matter what happens, it’s our job to provide the best possible tools for creators.”
The Edits app is currently available for pre-order on the Apple App Store, although it has yet to appear on the Google Play Store. Mosseri noted that the app will not be accessible for download until next month, and while he confirmed that an Android version will follow, he did not specify whether it would launch concurrently with the iOS app.
Characterized by Mosseri as “a full suite of creative tools,” the App Store description for Edits outlines the features users can anticipate. It states, “Make videos you’re proud to share with Edits, the new video creation app from Instagram. Edits is a free video editor that makes it easy for creators to turn their ideas into videos, right on their phone. It has all the tools you need to support your creation process, all in one place.”
Meta’s strategy appears aimed at capturing a larger user base during a tumultuous period for ByteDance apps. TikTok has recently returned to the U.S. market after a temporary shutdown, which followed newfound support from President Donald Trump. However, other associated apps, including CapCut, remain inaccessible.
Furthermore, there are various legal prerequisites that TikTok and other ByteDance applications must satisfy to secure an enduring presence in the U.S. market. Compliance issues, as described in U.S. law regarding the prohibition of these apps, pose significant challenges, leaving TikTok and its counterparts in a precarious position.
By introducing the Edits app in conjunction with extending the maximum length of Instagram Reels and implementing additional features, Instagram is poised to capitalize on the difficulties faced by a key rival. This is not the first instance where Meta has adopted a similar strategy; the company previously launched Threads as a competitor to Twitter, which experienced a migration of users following notable changes implemented by Elon Musk.
Source
www.androidcentral.com