Facebook is testing an Instagram tab similar to Explore and launching a new Reels video tab

Meta recently announced several updates coming to Facebook during the company’s IRL event in Austin. Checks out the Explore tab and adds a new video tab.

Let’s start with the Explore tab. If you’ve ever read Instagram, you probably know how this will actually work. This tab will feature a “variety of content tailored to your interests.”

Meta says the algorithm is designed to facilitate “content that’s not only entertaining, but helps you dive deeper into your interests.” Here’s hoping I don’t get anything but content about wildcrafting techniques . In any case, the new test tab is still in the testing phase so it may be a while before the wide release.

The video tab also gets a major update to welcome Reels. All video content on Facebook will now be stored behind this tab. The content will be streamed in a full-screen video player that allows users to “seamlessly watch the best of short, long-form and live videos at the same time.”

The updated video tab starts rolling out to users “in the coming weeks.” This is definitely an attempt by Meta to capture , as the announcement was accompanied by statistics showing that young people on Facebook spend about 60 percent of their time watching videos and Reels.

Got news for you, Meta. My father, who is not an adult, spends all his time on Facebook watching videos and Reels. So we will all benefit from this extended video tab.