Instagram's New Strategy for Video Quality Control

Instagram’s recent approach to video quality has stirred conversation, especially regarding its handling of content with lower view counts. During a live session, the platform's head explained the reasoning behind this shift, revealing a new focus on prioritizing videos with broader viewership across Stories, Reels, and longer videos. This move aims to optimize encoding resources, dedicating more power to high-engagement content.

In a forum, a user questioned why older Stories saved as Highlights often appear lower in quality than recent uploads. Addressing this, Instagram’s head clarified that algorithms assess the engagement levels of older Reels and Stories, leading to a gradual reduction in quality if they receive minimal interaction. This adjustment is meant to conserve processing power for more actively viewed videos.

This policy particularly impacts smaller creators, whose older Reels and Highlights may start to look less sharp as engagement wanes. The head of Instagram noted that the quality downgrade typically begins when a post’s viewership stabilizes, which can vary from a few days to a few weeks.

The approach has raised concerns over transparency, with some users questioning what view thresholds are needed to maintain high-quality playback. In response, the head emphasized that the adjustments are applied broadly rather than based on individual metrics, focusing on content that draws substantial views and thus receives higher-quality encoding.

The change also sparked discussions about its effect on smaller creators competing against larger ones. According to Instagram’s head, user engagement hinges more on content quality than on resolution. He reassured that the quality reduction is subtle enough to avoid discouraging viewers, suggesting that overall content value remains key to retaining audience interest.