Instagram new feature: You may soon be able to turn Reels into episodic series, here's how

Instagram users may soon find it easier to keep track of multi-part videos without scrolling endlessly through a creator's profile.

Meta is testing a new feature called Series that allows creators to group related Reels into organised collections, effectively turning standalone short videos into a structured series of episodes. The company confirmed the test to TechCrunch, saying the feature is currently being rolled out to a select group of creators and content producers.

The move suggests Meta is looking beyond the traditional quick-scroll nature of short-form video and exploring ways to encourage viewers to spend more time following ongoing stories, challenges and tutorials.

Turning Reels into a connected viewing experience

According to Meta, creators in the test programme can bundle both newly uploaded and previously published Reels into a single series. Rather than appearing as separate videos scattered across a profile, the clips are organised into a dedicated hub that allows viewers to access every episode in one place.

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The feature is designed to help audiences follow content that unfolds over multiple videos.

For example, a creator running a "10 Days of Healthier Baking" challenge could group all ten videos into a single collection. Viewers would then be able to watch episodes in sequence, revisit previous instalments and continue where they left off.

When users encounter an episode while browsing Instagram or Facebook Reels, they will see an option to view the full series. They can also save a series for later viewing or use it to stay up to date with future episodes.

Meta told TechCrunch that it has already observed growing interest in serialised content across its platforms. The new feature is intended to make these viewing experiences easier to discover and follow.

For creators, Series could provide a more organised way to publish educational content, storytelling projects, fitness challenges, recipes and other formats that naturally extend across multiple videos.

A familiar idea with potential monetisation opportunities

Meta's latest experiment also highlights how social media platforms are increasingly borrowing ideas from one another.

The concept bears similarities to TikTok's Series feature, which launched in 2023. TikTok allows creators to package videos into collections and, in some cases, place premium content behind a paywall that viewers can purchase access to.

While Meta has not announced any paid version of its feature, the company confirmed to TechCrunch that it is exploring monetisation opportunities for Series in the future. However, it declined to provide specific details about what those plans might involve.

The possibility of future revenue options could make the feature particularly attractive to creators looking for new ways to build loyal audiences and generate income from long-form storytelling spread across multiple short videos.

For now, the company is keeping the test relatively limited. Meta said it is working primarily with creators who already produce serialised content on Instagram and Facebook, allowing the company to gather feedback before deciding whether to expand the feature more broadly.

The test also reflects a broader shift in how platforms are thinking about audience engagement. While short-form video remains one of the most popular content formats online, social media companies are increasingly searching for ways to encourage repeat viewing rather than relying solely on endless scrolling.

If Series eventually launches widely, it could make Instagram and Facebook feel a little less like a stream of disconnected clips and more like a destination for ongoing stories that viewers actively follow from one episode to the next.