Instagram has a new way of determining the quality of videos that appear on the platform. Adam Mosseri, the Meta executive in charge of Instagram and Threads, revealed that the popularity of a video can impact its video quality. Popular videos are shown in higher quality, while less popular ones are shown in lower quality.
Mosseri explained in a video shared by The Verge that Instagram aims to display the highest-quality videos possible. However, if a video is not watched for a significant amount of time, it may be downgraded to a lower quality. This practice is not entirely new, as Meta had previously discussed using different encoding configurations based on video popularity.
After receiving questions and criticisms following the video shared on Threads, Mosseri provided more details. He noted that these quality decisions are made on an aggregate level, not individual viewer engagement. This means that the quality of a video is not determined by each viewer’s interaction.
Mosseri emphasized that Instagram prioritizes higher quality for creators who drive more views. While some users expressed concerns that this system favors popular creators, Mosseri argued that video content is more influential in viewer engagement than video quality. He reassured that the quality shift is not significant and that original creators value quality more than viewers do.
Despite the concerns raised by users, Mosseri believes that the impact of video quality on viewer interaction is minimal compared to the content itself. While popular creators may benefit from posting in higher quality, smaller creators can still attract viewers based on the video’s content rather than its quality.
Overall, Instagram’s approach to video quality is aimed at providing the best viewing experience for users while also considering the creators’ efforts. The platform’s focus remains on delivering engaging content, with video quality playing a supporting role rather than being the primary factor in viewer interaction.
