Instagram to take on YouTube, Snapchat with long-form vertical videos: Report

New feature will create a specific space for creators and publishers to upload long-form videos and monetise them.

Instagram is expected to launch its new feature for long-form videos on June 20. (Shutterstock)

Instagram has become the most sought-after hub for online and social media marketing. The platform, which began as a photo-sharing community, soon evolved into something bigger. And the rise continues. The platform is now reported to have introduced a new section for popular Instagrammers and celebrities to post long-form videos.

Techcrunch reports that Instagram will launch this new feature as early as June 20. It further elaborates on how long-form videos on Instagram will work. This space will cater to videos in the form of shows and music videos in high resolution

More importantly, the videos will be shown in full-screen mode and in vertical orientation. This would highly benefit Instagram, considering the popularity of vertical videos that became a thing in 2017. Longer videos like TV shows and movies are enjoyed better in landscape mode, but shorter videos - which would be the case with Instagram - are preferred in vertical orientation. More so with the rising trend of full-display smartphones.

The length of these videos on Instagram is likely to be anywhere between five and 15 minutes. Currently, Instagram allows just one minute duration for video uploads. With this feature, Instagram will reportedly increase the video upload limit for everyone. There's been a growing trend of vertical music videos posted on YouTube. With Instagram reported to show music videos on its new platform, this would be another booster for the company.

Instagram plans to let creators and publishers monetise their videos but the process hasn't been disclosed until now. To further help creators and publishers gain presence, these videos will come with a swipe-up button to take users to their respective websites. Instagram will also have a category for popular videos.

Users can pause watching these videos and go back to where they left, a feature similar to Netflix. These videos will also appear on the profiles of creators and publishers along with the section for 'Story Highlights'. Also, Instagram will only allow videos to be uploaded and not shot.