It seems that Facebook-owned Instagram is trying to copy some of the features of TikTok, with its engineers building a new in-app video editing tool that allows users to add AR effects and background music to images, change their speed, and even replay videos from others— a feature that is very similar to the “duet” functionality of TikTok. The device is said to be classified as “scenes.” The information comes from Jane Manchun Wong, a software engineer who came from top apps to discover as-yet-unreleased features as a name for reverse engineering code. You can see her tweet about the following topic: There’s no guarantee that Instagram will release “Scenes,” but Wong has a good track record of finding new functionality in the app. A month before it was officially announced, she discovered the mute feature of Instagram and found tests to hide likes back in April— a feature that is about to be tested for real in seven countries. Wong says “Scenes” is an earlier remix We also know that Facebook is keen to fight the growth of TikTok. The business has already had a brief release for a stand-alone TikTok clone named Lasso, and when Mark Zuckerberg’s employee-speaking audio was leaked, the CEO of Facebook suggested that Instagram may need to be engaged in the battle against the young upstart. TikTok has “married a fast, immersive browse video,” Zuckerberg said. “So it’s almost like the Explore Tab we’ve got on Instagram.” Now is a good time for TikTok’s rivals to pounce (Google is also working on their own counters, reportedly). The app has seen huge growth, but regulators are facing problems, including a review of U.S. national security. The ticking of time.
