Instagram adjusts video quality based on viewer engagement

WASHINGTON: According to recent reports, the quality of videos on Instagram depends on their popularity. Adam Mosseri, the head of Instagram, revealed in an AMA (Ask Me Anything) session that the platform’s algorithm adjusts video quality based on viewer engagement.

Initially, Instagram displayed videos in the highest quality possible. However, if a video doesn’t garner significant views, the platform reduces its quality to conserve computing power.

Conversely, if a video gains traction later on, Instagram reprocesses it in higher quality. This strategy aims to allocate resources efficiently, reserving excess computing power for popular videos.

Mosseri reassured users that video quality has a minimal impact on engagement, emphasizing that content itself drives viewer interaction. This approach aligns with Meta’s (Instagram’s parent company) broader video management strategy.

In 2021, Meta acknowledged the challenge of handling the growing volume of video uploads. To address this, Meta employs a tiered encoding process including, Initial encoding: Quick and resource-efficient processing for all videos, and Enhanced processing: Higher-quality processing for videos with substantial watch time.

This approach mirrors YouTube’s strategy, where popular videos receive prioritized bandwidth, resulting in faster loading times and better quality. Less viewed videos, on the other hand, may load slower and appear lower quality.