Instagram is broadening its horizons beyond mobile phones and Windows PCs, introducing an official app tailored for Amazon Fire TV devices.
Enjoy Instagram Reels on Your TV
At this year’s Bloomberg Screentime event, Instagram’s head, Adam Mosseri, confirmed they were actively exploring options for a dedicated TV app. He acknowledged it was an oversight for Meta not to have launched an Instagram TV app sooner. Now, just over two months later, Adam shared a video on Instagram announcing the app’s availability on Amazon Fire TV.
The app is currently accessible in the US on select Amazon Fire TV devices—including the Fire TV Stick HD, Fire TV Stick 4K Plus, first and second generations of Fire TV Stick 4K Max, Fire TV 2-Series, 4-Series, and the Fire TV Omni QLED Series. Meta plans to roll out the app to additional devices and countries soon.
To get started, users must download the app from the Amazon Appstore and sign in with their Instagram account. The TV app supports up to five Instagram accounts, making it convenient for multiple family members to access their personalized feeds on the big screen.
The experience on TV differs from the smartphone app; notably, messaging features are currently missing. Instead, users can explore Instagram Reels curated into categories based on their interests.
Once you select a reel, you can relax as the app automatically cycles through reels without manual scrolling. You also have the option to skip reels you don’t like and engage with others by liking or commenting, which further fine-tunes recommendations.
Meta has indicated upcoming enhancements, including the ability to control the app via smartphone remotes, share reels with friends, and discover new browsing methods for channels.
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Concerns Over Increased Short-Form Content Consumption
The National Institutes of Health highlight that excessive consumption of short-form content such as Instagram Reels can contribute to reduced attention spans among social media users. With Instagram’s new TV app, there are growing concerns that “doomscrolling” and binge-watching reels will become more widespread.
Users who tire of watching short videos on their phones might increasingly turn to their TVs to keep viewing reels, rather than engaging with long-form programming like movies or TV shows. The app’s automatic reel switching amplifies this effect, making it effortless to remain glued to the content.
The availability of Instagram on TVs adds to challenges for parents aiming to moderate their children’s screen time and exposure to social media.
Instagram is not alone in this space: TikTok launched its Fire TV app in 2020 and expanded to Google TV and Samsung Smart TVs in 2021. Meanwhile, Quibi, a short-form streaming service, also had a TV app but shuttered in late 2020 due to low demand.
