Instagram has announced the introduction of "trial reels," a new feature designed to help content creators experiment with their ideas without the pressure of immediate feedback from their followers. This tool allows users to share reels with non-followers, enabling them to gauge the performance of their content before sharing it more broadly.

The concept behind trial reels is to alleviate the anxiety creators often feel about posting content that might not align with their established niche. By initially targeting non-followers, creators can explore different genres, storytelling formats, or topics and assess how well these resonate with a broader audience.

Creators can easily create a trial reel by following the standard process for making a reel and then selecting the "Trial" option before sharing. These trial reels will be visible only in specific contexts and will not appear on the creator's main profile grid or Reels tab unless they choose to make them public later.

Approximately 24 hours after posting a trial reel, creators can access engagement metrics such as views, likes, comments, and shares. These insights help determine whether the content should be shared more widely. Instagram also offers an automated option where successful trial reels are automatically shared with followers if they perform well within the first 72 hours.

This feature has been in testing since earlier this year and has received positive feedback from those who have tried it. Creators report success in reaching both new audiences and existing followers with fresh content ideas.

Trial reels are set to roll out globally to all eligible creators in the coming weeks. More information on eligibility and other details can be found in Instagram's Help Center.