Instagram to Display Videos with Higher Quality Based on Popularity

Meta executive​ Adam ‍Mosseri,⁣ head of Instagram and Threads, announced that the platform​ will display popular videos with higher ⁣quality, while​ videos ‌that ‌receive less attention will be reduced in clarity.

Mosseri explained that Instagram strives to provide⁢ the ⁤”highest⁢ possible picture quality“, ‌but pointed out that if a video ⁤does not ⁣receive attention for ⁢a long time, ⁣the platform will adjust to low definition playback. This decision is ⁤based ⁣on the fact that most plays are concentrated in the early stages of release.

Meta had previously mentioned that it would⁣ use different encoding methods based on the popularity ‌of the video. ‍However, Mosseri’s‍ statement sparked discussions and questions⁤ from many users on Threads, with some criticizing this⁤ approach as⁤ “simply outrageous”.

Mosseri later clarified that this decision is based on a “whole,⁤ not individual”​ strategy, meaning​ that the playback ‌quality​ will not change ⁢due to⁢ a ⁣certain user’s viewing situation. For creators who bring more⁢ views, Instagram favors⁢ higher‍ quality processing, including CPU-intensive⁤ encoding and more expensive storage space.

Some users believe ​that this⁤ move is​ more beneficial to creators ‍who‍ already have high popularity, as they can get the⁤ best ‍video quality. Smaller or ⁣newer ‍creators may have difficulty attracting viewers due to limited​ video quality. Mosseri acknowledged these concerns as‍ “legitimate”, ⁢but⁢ stated that the actual impact is⁢ not ⁢significant, as the interaction rate of the video mainly depends⁤ on ⁤the content ‌itself rather than image quality.

Mosseri ⁣emphasized that the platform’s goal is to provide the best possible experience ‍for users, while also considering the⁢ technical limitations⁢ and costs associated ​with ‍video playback. ⁣By adjusting the ​video quality based ​on popularity, Instagram aims to strike a balance ‌between these competing factors.