Instagram, launched the exercise with its 15-second video creating feature just over a week after TikTok vanished from Google Playstore and Apple’s Appstore in India.
A Facebook spokesman said India was a “priority” for the California-based company.
“In India, consumer demand is strong with videos making up over a third of posts on Instagram. We’re excited to see what people create with Reels,” a Facebook spokesperson told RFI. “This responsiveness to consumer demand is competition at work. It increases choice.”
Facebook has shut down its little-known TikTok copycat on Playstore, Lasso, to pave the way for Reels, which was first tested in Brazil last November and has since rolled into France and Germany.
‘Welcome alternative’
The announcement appears to have come as a relief for some of India’s 200 million plus registered TikTok users.
“Many are happy that Instagram will provide an alternative in India and perhaps bring in a new genre of creators as well,” sports blogger Rahul Banerjee told RFI.
Faisal Kawoosa, founder of technology research and consultancy services, TechArc, suggested well educated, urban Indians would prefer Facebook products over TikTok.
“Facebook and Instagram are already very popular among Indian influencers and celebrities,” Kawoosa told RFI. “Facebook is definitely one of the most penetrated apps amongst Indian users.”
Border skirmish
India blocked TikTok and 58 other Chinese-owned social media platforms just days after around 20 Indian soldiers died in a clash with Chinese soldiers along their borders in Ladakh on 15 June.
The Delhi government cited privacy and security concerns as reasons for the ban. Bytedance, TikTok’s owner, has denied it shares data with the Chinese government.Experts say the measure could cost the Beijing-based company up to 5.3 billion euros in losses.
This news was originally published at rfi.fr/en/international