Earlier this year, when TikTok and other ByteDance apps were temporarily removed from the Apple and Google app stores, Meta announced that it was working on a new video editing app aimed at Instagram creators. This app, called Edits, has finally been released as Meta continues to try to capitalize on the uncertainty surrounding TikTok’s future to attract more creators to its apps.
As seen in previous app store listings, Edits promises much more advanced editing tools than what has been available on Meta apps. The built-in camera allows creators to shoot up to 10 minutes of video and post it to Instagram in “enhanced quality.” It also features popular editing effects such as the green screen and Instagram’s extensive music catalog.
In line with Meta’s current focus on artificial intelligence, Edits also has several AI-powered features. The “animate” feature allows users to create videos from a static image, while the “cut” feature allows them to “isolate specific people or objects with precise tracking.” And unlike ByteDance’s popular CapCut editor, Edits doesn’t export videos with any watermarks (Instagram downgrades videos with visible watermarks).
Although Edits is launching a few months after CapCut went back online in the US, Meta is adding some Instagram-specific features to attract video creators. This includes in-app post analytics, as well as the ability to import audio tracks they’ve previously saved in the app. And it looks like Instagram creators can expect more specialized features in the future. In its blog post, the company notes that the current version of the app is only a “first step” for Edits, and that it plans to work with creators to expand functionality in the future.
