Instagram has rolled out a new feature called Watch History, aimed at addressing user concerns over lost videos while scrolling through Reels. The platform almost fell victim to a “rug pulling” bug. As a consequence, users were unsure what videos they were processing. Instagram’s head, Adam Mosseri, provided more information on this new feature in a post earlier today on Threads.
The Watch History feature makes it easy for users to go back and watch videos they’ve already seen. In order to use this new feature, users must go to their account settings. Once in the app, they can click on “Your Activity” and easily discover and use the Watch History.
Navigating to Watch History
Instagram has simplified locating Watch History step-by-step. It’s an immense, carefully hidden improvement. Users start by going to their account settings. By choosing to do so, they ensure that users can quickly discover the new feature and immediately begin exploring their full viewing history.
This improvement is especially useful for those people who used to have a hard time going back to learn more after viewing Reels. This bug made her feed refresh or reload by itself. Logically, this made it impossible for users to keep track of what they had watched already. Recently, Instagram rolled out Watch History to address just that along with a few other related issues.
Features of Watch History
The Watch History feature is packed with convenient filters that totally wowed me and make navigating a breeze. Now, users will be able to sort their videos from newest to oldest, which is super helpful when trying to find content you just recently watched. Third, they can literally sort these videos by when the bills passed. This great little feature makes it easy to see videos you’ve watched within specific ranges of dates.
Additionally, the feature includes a tool for viewers to filter their watch history by which creators’ Reels they’re watching. Plus, users can easily discover short form videos on their accounts that they love the most. That increases their lifetime engagement with the platform. Today, users can quickly return to Reels they’ve already watched without the need to save them. This move is a huge leap forward for all the users who enjoy finding new, relevant content through exploration.
Addressing User Concerns
Instagram’s Watch History feature is a clear example of responding to user feedback. People expressed disappointment when they were unable to go back to videos that they had not bookmarked. This was particularly problematic when scrolling through the unlimited selection of Reels in their home feeds. When you enter Reels or scroll through the feed, these preloaded videos autostart. The reality is that these videos usually become mere placeholders that prove ineffective at truly serving users looking to return to specific content.
With the addition of Watch History, Instagram takes a step in alleviating these worries and further improves user experience. This new feature provides users a consistent method to locate videos they enjoyed. Now, they can read their favorite blogs without risking them disappearing in a chaotic algorithmic feed.
