Instagram lowers quality for less popular videos
Listen to the story (Canadian accent)
Instagram has said that it lowers the quality of older and less popular videos. This has made many creators upset. Adam Mosseri, the head of Instagram, said that the platform keeps better quality for more popular videos.
Some creators are unhappy with this change. One creator, Siete Savone, said it hurts their art. She loves using Instagram but thinks this decision affects the quality of original work. She believes creators shouldn’t have to worry about their content’s quality being lowered because it is not popular.
Mr. Mosseri said that Instagram reduces the quality of videos that have not been watched for a long time. If a video becomes popular again, its quality will improve. Social media expert Matt Navarra said this system might make it harder for new creators to get followers. He thinks it could help big creators more than small ones.
Instagram’s decision is partly due to the cost of streaming videos. High-quality videos need more computer power and storage space. Some people understand that it’s important to reduce storage costs but changing people’s art is not fair.
In May, Instagram made changes to help all creators have a fair chance. Mr. Navarra agrees with Mr. Mosseri that people care more about a video’s content than its quality. He advises creators to focus on making interesting content.
Mr. Mosseri said that Instagram does not change the quality of individual videos but does so in a general way. He believes the difference in quality is not very big. Instagram’s efforts to make video more important have faced criticism before.
Vocabulary30 words
- Lower
- To make something smaller, less important or worse
- Quality
- how good or bad something is; condition;
- Popular
- Liked by many people; something many people like; common; frequent
- Creator
- producer; someone who makes something new; a person who makes content
- Upset
- Feeling sad, angry, or disappointed about something
- Head
- leader, top person, boss
- Platform
- an online business that provides a service or connects people and businesses
- Hurt
- To cause pain or damage to someone/something; to feel pain or have an injury; to have damage to the body
- Decision
- a choice that you make about something after thinking about several possibilities/options; choice; ruling;
- Affect
- to have an influence on or change something;
- Original
- the first one made and not a copy; the origin or beginning; not a remake
- Content
- information, images, video, etc. that are included as part of something like a website or social media account; material created by a person
- Reduce
- to make less; make smaller; decrease; bring down; shrink
- Social media
- Websites and apps that allow people to communicate and share information online (Facebook, X, TikTok, etc.)
- Expert
- a person with a lot of knowledge and experience in a trade, job or profession
- System
- A way things work together; a set of connected things or devices that operate together; A group of things that work together
- Follower
- A person who likes or supports someone; a person who follows or watches another person on social media
- Partly
- Not completely
- Due to
- because of; owing to
- Stream
- to watch a video or listen to music online without downloading it or having a physical copy
- Computer power
- The ability of a computer to do things; the performance of a computer
- Storage space
- The amount of room a computer has to save things
- Fair
- to follow or go by the rules or standards; honorable; proper; agreeing with what is thought to be right or acceptable;
- Chance
- opportunity; possibility;
- Advise
- To give advice or suggestions
- Focus on
- to give most of your attention to someone or something; to look or listen carefully
- Individual
- a single person or thing; a person
- Effort
- attempt; hard work; trying to do something;
- Face criticism
- To receive negative comments or negative opinions
- Criticism
- a negative comment or negative opinion about something;
Quiz
Answer key
1. Because Instagram is reducing the quality of their videos. 2. The head of Instagram. 3. False
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Instagram has _____ that it lowers the quality of older and less popular _____. This has made many creators upset. Adam Mosseri, the _____ of Instagram, said that the platform keeps better quality for more _____ videos.
Some creators are _____ with this change. One creator, Siete Savone, said it hurts their art. She _____ using Instagram but thinks this decision affects the _____ of original work. She believes creators shouldn’t have to worry about _____ content’s quality being lowered because it is not popular.
Mr. Mosseri said _____ Instagram reduces the quality of videos that have not been watched for a _____ time. If a video becomes popular _____, its quality will improve. Social media expert Matt Navarra said this system might make it _____ for new creators to get followers. He thinks it could help big _____ more than small ones.
Instagram’s _____ is partly due to the cost of streaming videos. High-quality videos need more _____ power and storage space. Some people understand that it’s _____ to reduce storage costs but changing people’s art is not fair.
In _____, Instagram made changes to help all creators have a fair _____. Mr. Navarra agrees with Mr. Mosseri that people care more about a video’s _____ than its quality. He advises creators to focus on making _____ content.
Mr. Mosseri said that Instagram _____ not change the quality of individual videos but does so in a general way. He _____ the difference in quality is not very big. Instagram’s efforts to make video _____ important have faced criticism before.
Discussion questions
- Do you think Instagram's decision to reduce video quality is fair? Why or why not?
- Do you think people care more about video quality or content?
- Should creators focus more on quality or quantity?
- Do you create content for social media? Why or why not?
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