If you’ve been curious about why some videos on Instagram appear clearer and more polished than others, there’s an explanation. On Sunday, Adam Mosseri, the head of Instagram, revealed that higher-quality video content is primarily offered to creators who generate more views, rather than being available equally to all videos.
This recent update is disheartening for creators of short-form videos, who previously considered the platform a level playing field for various types of video content.
Video Quality Is Tied to Viewer Engagement
In a recent Instagram Reels post, Mosseri expressed, “We aim to showcase the finest video quality possible. However, if a video doesn’t maintain prolonged viewer engagement—since most views occur shortly after posting—we’ll downgrade the quality. If a video gets rewatched frequently, we’ll upgrade it back to higher quality.”
The Instagram leader took to Threads in response to users’ inquiries about whether smaller content creators were being unfairly disadvantaged for having fewer followers. He clarified that the observed quality differences aren’t significant and shouldn’t be a major concern.
“The impact on video quality isn’t drastic,” Mosseri stated on Threads, “and whether or not viewers engage with videos is more dependent on the content itself rather than the visual quality.”
Creators Express Concerns Over Possible Bias
Despite these reassurances, many smaller creators feel skeptical. Some voice concerns about being at a disadvantage compared to established influencers who enjoy a larger following. Others speculate that Instagram’s approach to video resolution may reflect a deeper issue of bias or censorship on the platform.
As the U.S. presidential election approaches in the coming weeks, these concerns become even more significant—especially for those who utilize Instagram to consume or produce politically related video content. Nevertheless, there is currently no confirmed evidence that the social media platform is manipulating its video content in any unsubstantiated way. If you’re new to the landscape of Instagram videos, we’ve outlined the essential details for getting started.
Mosseri maintained on Threads that the adjustments in video quality function on an “aggregate level, not an individual viewer level…It’s not a simple binary situation; instead, it’s a more nuanced scale.” This means that individuals are unlikely to face unfair treatment simply for having a smaller following—even if it might appear that way at first glance.