Last December, Meta did something I never thought would happen and brought Instagram to Fire TVs, so you can now doomscroll reels on the big screen. Now, two months later, Meta is bringing the Instagram for TV app to another major platform: Google TV.
This news comes directly from Instagram head Adam Mosseri, who confirmed on Threads that Meta has begun rolling out its Instagram for TV app to Google TV devices.
“We’re expanding Instagram for TV to Google TV devices in the US starting today. Excited to bring this experience to more TVs and hear what you think as we continue to make it better,” Mosseri said.
- Dimensions
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6.4 x 3 x 1-inch
- Connective Technology
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Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
- Brand
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Google
- What’s Included
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Remote
Instagram for TV is built for Reels
Its user interface differs from that of your phone
Instagram for TV isn’t the same Instagram experience you’ll find on your phone or tablet. Instead, it’s designed specifically for watching short-form videos, which Instagram calls Reels.
With that in mind, Instagram’s TV app has its own unique user interface (UI). When you open it and sign in, you’ll land on a home page featuring video recommendations based on what you’ve watched before and what’s trending with your friends. There’s also a search feature to find friends or specific creators.
While watching a Reel, the controls are similar to those on your phone, and you can like it, check out the comments, and even send it to a friend.
Instagram’s TV app lets you sign in to up to five accounts, so if there are multiple people in your household, you can switch between accounts to keep getting your personalized video recommendations.
Admittedly, I was shocked when Instagram launched its TV app last year. Given how long it took Instagram to release a proper iPad app, I was surprised it found the time to make a TV app, but I guess Meta sees room to expand its platform on TV screens, as YouTube has been doing successfully for years. And based on Mosseri’s Thread post, Instagram for TV will likely expand to even more TV screens in the near future, beyond Google TV and Fire TV.
If you want to try Instagram on your TV, you can download it now from the Google TV and Fire TV app stores.
