Instagram has announced it will decrease the quality of videos that fail to attract significant views, according to the platform’s head, Adam Mosseri. During a recent ask-me-anything (AMA) session on Instagram Stories, Mosseri explained that this policy affects all video formats on the site, including Stories, longer videos, and Reels. The aim is to allocate computational resources to videos gaining higher engagement and viewership.
Instagram Reduces Quality of Videos That Get Fewer Views
A user on Threads shared a video where Mosseri addressed concerns regarding older Stories saved as Highlights losing quality compared to the original uploads. He clarified that the platform employs algorithms that continuously evaluate the viewership of older Stories and Reels, downgrading their quality when they do not perform well in terms of views. This measure helps to conserve computational resources for content that is more widely viewed.
This policy could shed light on why Highlights and Reels from lesser-known creators may appear slightly lower in quality over time. Mosseri noted that the downgrade occurs after the peak interest period for a video subsides, which may range from several days to a few weeks.
Some users have expressed concerns about this strategy, particularly regarding the lack of transparency. Questions have been raised about the specific number of views needed to maintain video quality.
In response to a query on Threads, Mosseri stated that the quality regulations operate on an aggregate basis rather than focusing on individual viewers. “We prioritize higher quality for creators who attract more views. It’s not just a yes or no situation, but a spectrum,” he explained.
When a user remarked that this approach could disadvantage smaller creators in competing against larger ones, Mosseri responded by indicating that engagement typically hinges on the content’s appeal rather than production quality. He also assured that the decrease in video quality is not substantial enough to impact viewer experience significantly.
