Instagram tests auto-scroll feature for reels and posts

New Delhi: Instagram is testing an auto-scroll feature that could alter how users consume both Reels and feed posts, offering a hands-free, uninterrupted content experience. 

The feature, which some creators and business accounts in India have already spotted, allows videos or posts to play and move automatically to the next without manual swiping.

For Reels, the option appears under the three-dot menu and enables continuous playback, similar to TikTok’s default format. A version for static feed posts is also being tested separately, allowing users to toggle auto-scroll from the post settings. 

As per the report, while Instagram has not yet confirmed a full-scale rollout or timelines for wider access, the dual tests indicate Meta’s broader shift towards passive consumption. The auto-scroll trial for posts marks a departure from the platform’s historically swipe-based navigation and brings it closer to rivals TikTok and YouTube, both of which already support automated scrolling.

According to multiple reports, Industry observers say the update could increase watch time and ad exposure, particularly in high-engagement markets like India. However, the feature also raises concerns around mindless scrolling, with some noting that motionless content loops may deepen digital fatigue.

Meta has yet to share official comment or regional rollout details, but as with previous product experiments, such as Notes and music in carousels, India appears to be a key testing ground.