Instagram: comments, carousels, AI, Trial Reels and the future of the algorithm: Adam Mosseri’s answers this week (22/11/25)

Every week, Adam Mosseri answers users’ questions. Here are the key points of the new FAQ

Does commenting on your own posts improve your reach?

No. Commenting on your own posts doesn’t change anything. On the other hand, replying to other people’s comments increases their future engagement, which can improve your performance in the long term.

How do you keep track of time?

Press the Instagram logo at the top of the app. Choose “Subscriptions / Following”. This feed is chronological and has no recommendations.

Can we publish 20-minute Reels?

No. Reels are still limited to 3 minutes. You can publish longer videos via “Post”, but they will be less eligible for recommendations.

Are AI-generated captions favoured?

No. No distribution bonus. But Adam Mosseri recommends adding captions, because on the feed a lot of people scroll through without sound. Captions improve understanding and retention.

Do carousels perform better than Reels?

It depends on your audience. Some communities respond better to video, others to sequences of images. The only rule: test.

Will the summary of comments (Edits) arrive on Instagram?

Mosseri thinks it’s a good idea. He points out thatEdits is also used to manage ideas, get inspiration and track performance. The summary of comments could be added to the ‘main’ app.

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Does the time of publication really change the scope?

A little, but the impact is limited. Check your Insights and post just before your subscribers’ peak activity. Otherwise, don’t obsess about it.

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What does he think of the antitrust ruling?

He says he is satisfied. For him, denying the competition between Instagram, TikTok and YouTube does not reflect the reality of the market. The court recognised this.

I don’t have access to Trial Reels and the viewing history. Why can’t I?

Trial Reels are now activated for all public accounts with more than 1,000 subscribers. If you’re in this situation and you don’t see them, report a bug.

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What are Trial Reels used for? Do they help growth?

They are useful if you want to test ideas without sending them to your subscribers.
The Reel doesn’t appear on your profile and isn’t shown to your community unless you decide to upgrade it. It’s a way of reducing pressure, not an essential tool.

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When will we be able to personalise the algorithm?

Instagram is working on it. The priority is to start with Reels, then extend to Explore and finally Main Feed. The aim is to enable users to see an overview of the signals used and adjust their preferences. No launch date yet.

Find all the answers from Adam Mosseri’s weekly FAQ stories on the website.