Meta Sunday announced a new video editing app called Edits, after ByteDance’s video editing app CapCut was removed from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store as part of the TikTok ban.
Instagram chief Adam Mosseri (pictured above) he told Threads that the app will launch next month on iOS, with an Android version to follow later. He added that the company is working with select creators to gather feedback on the app.
“Today we’re announcing a new app called Edits, for those of you who are passionate about creating videos on your phone. There’s a lot going on right now, but whatever happens, it’s our job to provide the best tools possible for creators,” he wrote.
Mosseri said the app will have a suite of creative tools, including a dedicated tab for inspiration, a tab for tracking ideas and a high-quality camera. In addition, he will be able to share draft versions of creations with friends or colleagues. He added that creators will be able to see information about the performance of videos created through Edits on Instagram after they are published.
In a separate post, he stressed that the app is “more for creators than casual video makers,” which is hard to quantify in measurable terms.
Meta has historically made moves to fill gaps in the market. When TikTok was banned in India in June 2020, it launched a similar product, Instagram Reels, days later in early July. In 2023, the company also launched Threads, a rival to text-based social networks like X. The company probably realizes that many video creators will try another tool in the absence of CapCut. And even if the app is restored, the uncertainty will create opportunities for other tools.
Earlier this month, a16z-powered video editing app Captions switched to a freemium model to attract more users and challenge CapCut.
