Instagram just launched on TVs, but what you can watch on the big screen isn’t what you’d expect

Instagram has started testing its platform on TVs, but you won’t be looking at your friends’ photos or watching Stories on the big screen yet. Right now, the focus is only on Reels, which means you can watch those short videos on your big TV.

This change is about bringing social viewing into the living room. Meta, which owns Instagram, announced this test because people said watching Reels together is more fun. Watching a funny video on a phone is fine, but watching it with friends or family on the couch is a better experience.

According to T3, to use this now, you need to live in the US and own an Amazon Fire TV device. This includes the Fire TV Stick 4K Max or a full Fire TV model. This test phase helps Instagram learn which features work best when moved from phones to TVs. The service should expand to more countries and other devices later.

Instagram wants to own your living room screen time

When you download the Instagram app on your Fire TV device, you can sign into your existing account right away. The app also lets you add up to five different accounts to the TV. This helps households where multiple people want their own feeds and recommendations. You can create a separate account just for the TV, but using your main profile gives you a personalized viewing experience based on your interests.

Finding content on the TV app is simple. Your favorite Reels are grouped into channels based on your interests. These include categories like new music, sports highlights, and travel content, which makes browsing easy. The Reels play automatically with full sound as you flip through the channels. If you know who you want to watch, there’s a search bar at the top where you can find your favorite creators or profiles with lots of video content.

Since this app is built for shared viewing, Instagram is careful about content standards. The platform said that Reels on TV will follow the PG-13 rating system that was recently added to the Instagram mobile app. These rules control what appears on the big screen to make sure content is suitable for everyone watching together. Social media platforms have faced criticism recently, with bizarre public behavior going viral and raising questions about content moderation.

Instagram is also making sure that existing protections for teens carry over. Time spent watching Reels on the TV app will count toward their overall usage limits for the platform. They’ll still get reminders about reaching those limits, just like they do when scrolling on their phone.

As the test continues, more features should arrive later. The company mentioned the possibility of using your phone as a remote control for the TV app. However, tech issues can still disrupt the experience, as some users have reported problems with their iPhone alarms causing them to miss important events. For now, if you’re in the US and have a Fire TV, you can stop crowding around a phone screen and watch those quick videos on your best display.