Instagram, launched in 2010, may finally be addressing one of its longest-standing user complaints: the lack of a dedicated iPad app. According to a report from The Information, the platform is actively developing an app specifically tailored for tablets. While iPad users have long had access to Instagram through the iPhone version, the experience has never been optimized for the larger screen, leaving users frustrated. The new app is reportedly part of Instagram’s broader strategy to capture market share amid growing uncertainty around TikTok’s future.
This development arrives at a time when the U.S. government is once again pushing ByteDance, the Chinese owner of TikTok, to divest its American operations. Although President Biden had initially set an April 5 deadline, this has now been extended by another 75 days. With TikTok’s future in limbo, Instagram appears to be moving quickly to attract creators and users who may be looking for alternative platforms.
In a related push, Instagram has introduced Edits, a new mobile-first video editing app. Created to replace the void left by ByteDance’s CapCut—which was pulled from app stores earlier this year—Edits is designed for short-form video creators. It offers tools that simplify the creative process directly on smartphones, an essential feature for influencers and content makers who live on mobile.
The platform is also evolving its core features. Reels can now run up to three minutes, matching TikTok’s maximum video length. Instagram has also made subtle changes to its interface, making it more familiar to users who are accustomed to TikTok’s design and navigation. These updates underscore Instagram’s urgency to solidify itself as the dominant space for short-form video in a rapidly shifting social media landscape.
Alongside its aggressive expansion in content creation tools, Meta is also focusing on user safety—particularly for teens. New policies now require anyone under 16 to have parental approval to livestream on Meta platforms. Initially rolling out in the U.S., UK, Canada, and Australia, this change is part of Meta’s broader Teen Accounts framework. The policy also includes safeguards like requiring parental consent before teens can disable a feature that automatically blurs potentially explicit images in messages.
The Teen Accounts system, which launched on Instagram last September, is now being extended to Facebook and Messenger. These moves reflect Meta’s dual goals: competing fiercely with TikTok while creating a more secure environment for its youngest users.
