Instagram is subtly testing a new feature that has the potential to transform how we view reels. As the name implies, auto-scroll enables Reels to play consecutively without requiring you to swipe.
Some creators already have access to the tool, albeit it hasn’t been made available to everyone yet. Only a small number of creators and company accounts, particularly in India, may currently access it.
If so, when you view a reel, you will see the option in the three-dot menu. Once enabled, the subsequent video starts playing automatically when the current one concludes—no tapping, swiping, or other effort is required.
A minor modification that might alter how we scroll
It might not seem like much at first. However, this minor tweak has the potential to significantly change the experience for those who watch Reels frequently. Some customers claim that until they realised they had watched multiple Reels in a row without touching their phone, they were unaware that the feature was in operation.
On the one hand, it seems easy and carefree. You can relax and simply watch the videos as they come in. On the other side, it’s simple to forget the time. You can find yourself viewing more than you intended to if you don’t pause between swipes, which is obviously good for Instagram.
More adverts are seen, more content is consumed, and more information about your preferences is gathered as a result of the additional time spent in the app. Therefore, even if auto-scroll seems like a useful function, its purpose is to keep you interested.
Testing is ongoing, but a bigger rollout is anticipated.
Before determining whether to make new features available to everyone, Instagram frequently tests them with creators. Given that it is one of the largest and busiest markets for the platform, India is frequently used as a testing ground. Tools like Notes and music in carousels have been used in previous early efforts here. The newest one seems to be auto-scroll.
An official date for when the feature might be accessible to all users has not yet been set. However, if the test is successful, it might soon be a standard feature of Reels.
Don’t panic if your reels begin to move on their own; this isn’t a bug. Whether you were prepared for it or not, Instagram may simply be giving your thumb a little rest.