Facebook has officially rolled out a major update — all videos on the platform are now considered Reels. This means that instead of having a separate “Videos” section and a “Reels” section, all uploaded videos will now live under the Reels tab.
This change is part of Facebook’s continued focus on short-form video content, aligning with trends set by TikTok and Instagram. But what does this mean for your business page and your social media strategy?
🎥 What’s Changing
Previously, Facebook separated video content into two categories:
- Videos – longer, traditional uploads that lived on your page’s video tab.
- Reels – short, vertical videos (up to 90 seconds) optimized for discovery and engagement.
Now, everything falls under the Reels umbrella — regardless of length or format. This means:
- Your older video uploads will appear under the Reels section.
- Facebook will promote all videos through the Reels feed algorithm.
- Viewers will see a more unified video experience when engaging with your page.
💡 Why Facebook Made the Change
This shift follows Meta’s strategy of prioritizing short-form, mobile-first video across platforms. Facebook and Instagram users spend more time watching Reels than any other content type, so the platform wants to make it easier for users to find and engage with video in one place.
By unifying all video content under Reels, Facebook can:
- Simplify video discovery for users.
- Boost video engagement metrics.
- Encourage creators and brands to post short, engaging videos that compete with TikTok and YouTube Shorts.
⚙️ What Businesses Should Do Next
This change may affect how your page’s video content performs — especially if you relied on longer, landscape-style videos. Here are some quick tips to adapt:
- Optimize for Vertical: Film or edit videos in a 9:16 aspect ratio so they display well in the Reels feed.
- Add Captions: Reels often autoplay silently; captions help grab attention and boost watch time.
- Keep It Snappy: Even though longer videos are allowed, short and engaging clips still perform best.
- Refresh Thumbnails: Check your older videos — since they now live in Reels, make sure their covers look visually appealing.
- Track Insights: Monitor your Reels performance metrics to see how engagement shifts with this new format.
🗣️Sounding Off: Is This a Good Change?
In our experience managing client pages, this change may help simplify video posting, but it could also require adjusting creative strategy to fit the short-form content model. While Facebook is still allowing long-form content, the switch to defaulting all videos as Reels would make it so that most long-form content is not filmed in a convenient ratio. The Reel ratio, much like TikTok or YouTube shorts, is designed to take up your full phone screen and keep viewers engaged with the app. Now it seems that YouTube will be the only platform where traditionally filmed long-form content will be able to thrive, but don’t cut out long-form completely just yet. Meta has been known to walk back a change or continue to tweak something new due to consumer feedback, so we’ll see how Facebook handles these changes in the upcoming months.
🚀 Final Thoughts
Facebook’s decision to merge videos and Reels signals a bigger shift in how social media platforms value video content. For brands, this is a great opportunity to rethink how you tell stories — not just with ads or static posts, but with authentic, engaging, and scroll-stopping video content.
If you need help optimizing your video strategy or understanding how this change affects your business, Callan Group Communications can help you navigate the new landscape with confidence. Contact us today!
