After ByteDance's video editing app CapCut was removed from Apple's App Store and Google Play Store as part of the TikTok ban, Meta Sunday announced a new video editing app called Edits.
Instagram head Adam Mosseri (pictured above) said in the thread that the app will be released on iOS next month, followed by an Android version. He added that the company is working with selected creators to gather feedback on the app.
“Today we are announcing a new app called 'Edits' for those who are passionate about creating videos on their mobile phones. There's a lot going on right now, and no matter what happens, it's our job to give creators the best tools possible,” he wrote.
Mosseri said the app will feature a suite of creative tools, including a dedicated tab for inspiration, a tab for tracking ideas, and a high-quality camera. Additionally, we're adding the ability to share draft versions of your work with friends and collaborators. He added that creators will be able to see insights into how videos created through editing will perform on Instagram once published.
In another post, he emphasized that the app is “more for creators than casual video makers,” but it's hard to quantify that in measurable terms.
Meta has so far moved to fill a gap in the market. After TikTok was banned in India in June 2020, it launched a similar product, Instagram Reels, a few days later in early July. In 2023, the company also launched Threads, a rival to text-based social networks such as X. The company probably recognizes that without CapCut, many video creators will try other tools. And even if the app is restored, the uncertainty creates opportunities for other tools to be used.
Earlier this month, a16z-backed video editing app Captions switched to a freemium model to attract more users and take on CapCut.