IGTV has been available for a week now, but how different is the app from Instagram, and what options do you have as a user? In this IGTV FAQ we answer frequently asked questions.
IGTV FAQ: 5 questions and answers
Last week, Instagram shook up the online video world with IGTV, a brand new app dedicated to videos that now mostly appear on YouTube. The videos are all shot in portrait mode, so they fill the entire screen of your iPhone.
1. Do I have to use IGTV as a standalone app?
Instagram has released IGTV as a separate app, but if you’re already using Instagram, you don’t necessarily need to install it. In Instagram, a button for IGTV has been added that allows you to view the full range. A great way to try out IGTV via the Instagram app before installing a new app on your iPhone. It also means that you can use IGTV if you don’t have an Instagram account. In that case, log in via Facebook, the owner of Instagram and IGTV.
2. Why can’t I record from the IGTV app?
Thanks to a built-in camera, Instagram makes it very easy to quickly photograph, edit and post something on your profile. This camera is remarkably absent in IGTV, and that is no coincidence. To prevent users from simply putting the videos they would normally post as Story now on IGTV, this in-app camera has been removed.
You will therefore first have to record a video in another app, edit it if necessary, and only then upload it in IGTV. This should (if all goes well) increase the quality of the videos that appear on the new platform.
3. What’s the difference between IGTV and Instagram Stories?
To compete with YouTube, IGTV focuses on better-produced and longer videos. An Instagram Story has a hard limit of a few seconds, but a video on IGTV can take a lot longer with a maximum of 60 minutes. Also, there is no room for photos on IGTV; it’s all about videos here.
In addition, to post a video in IGTV, you must first create a channel. Everyone who starts the app for the first time is only a viewer by default and therefore does not contribute anything. That will ensure that you will see far fewer videos from your friends and family members in IGTV, and more from websites, companies, brands and professional creators.
4. How can I adjust the app to my preferences?
When you log in with your Instagram account, you automatically follow all the people you already follow on Instagram who have created an account. To expand this offering, you can swipe up on the screen to open a menu. Here you can view the offer for you, an overview of the videos of the people you follow and a list of all popular videos. If you are looking for a specific channel, you can use the search function by tapping on the magnifying glass.
5. Can I save videos and continue watching later?
Because videos on IGTV take a lot longer than on Instagram, you often don’t get them all at once. That’s why IGTV has a handy ‘Continue Watching’ tab that lists all the videos you haven’t reached the end of yet. You can reach this tab as follows.
- Open IGTV;
- Swipe up from the bottom of the screen;
- Tap on ‘Continue watching’;
- Choose the video you want to watch.
IGTV is free to download and use. Time will tell how this new service will affect YouTube and whether more people will post their videos on IGTV from now on. If anyone can overthrow YouTube as a video platform, it’s Instagram.