Instagram will soon let you turn public photos into Reels

Instagram's "remixing" option will soon let anyone use your images for Reels if your account is public. Be warned, once "remixing" is live on Instagram, it'll automatically be enabled unless you turn it off.

Meta-owned Instagram says that it'll add the ability to "remix" public photos in "the coming weeks." These photos may be used in Reels for short-form videos.

Remixing will be enabled by default for all the photos that will be posted once the option is available to users, but they will still have the choice of turning it off in the Settings. It is also important to note that old photos will have the remixing option disabled by default and users can enable it for individual posts with the same process.

In January, Instagram opened all public video content to be remixed for Reels to provide more content to creators. In this case also, only videos posted after the change was made were available to remix.

Photographers have often been sceptical of Instagram’s use of their content and this move only multiplies their concern as their photographs can be widely used. While it will help gain them more traction, it is also possible that their work can be taken out of context or in context they would rather not see it.

Dual and Templates are two brand-new Reels features that Instagram is introducing. By preloading audio and clip placeholders and allowing users to add their own photographs or video clips afterwards, templates make it simple for users to construct reels.

What about privacy?

A Meta spokesperson told The Verge that remixing will be enabled automatically until users turn it off. It appears that users will be able to turn off remixing through the settings menu.

This option may be used to turn off remixing for individual photos or for your entire account, and all pictures posted before the feature's rollout will have remixing off by default, but you may turn it on for individual posts. In January, Instagram had done the same with public videos.

Instagram also explained its vision for Reels in a new blog post, adding that all videos shorter than 15 minutes will now be shared as Reels. It also shed light on the "Templates" and "Dual" features of Reels, which the company claims will help people "easily express their creative ideas."