Instagram launches channel to curate the best videos around events

Instagram has introduced a new channel to its Explore screen designed to have you use the media-sharing app more. When you browse through it, you’ll see curated videos around concerts, sporting events, and other activities, completely personalized for your viewing pleasure. Think of it as Twitter Moments and Snapchat further integrated into Instagram.

Available to just those in the U.S., this event channel is a further extension of what Instagram had been testing out since October when it debuted a channel that surfaced videos around Halloween. The app also has a “Videos You Might Like” feature that leverages the company’s personalization algorithm, so it’s likely that this also played a part in the new event channel.

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Prior to today, Instagram’s Explore screen was more heavily focused on photos. Yes, there were videos included in the collection, but now it has a dedicated area, which people may find helpful because there’s only some much enjoyment one can derive from still images — but moving pictures, that’s where you can cheer on the Final Five as they win gold in women’s gymnastics, marvel as Jamaica’s Usain Bolt owns the 100 meter dash, or experience the moment when Adele sings some of your favorite tunes because you can’t be there in person.

Instagram has had a busy few weeks investing in new video tools for creators, including the launch of its Snapchat copy, Instagram Stories. With that, the Facebook-owned service mirrored the ephemerality aspect, but now with the Events channel, it’s also cannibalized the Discover feature.

Videos that are being curated will likely be selected by Instagram’s editorial team in concert with its personalization algorithm.