New York: Instagram has announced a new video editing app named Edits, as TikTok resumes services in the US following President-elect Donald Trump's assurance of a potential reprieve from a nationwide ban. The announcement comes at a time when TikTok and its parent company, ByteDance, are embroiled in legal challenges.
According to Anadolu Agency, Instagram head Adam Mosseri introduced the app in a video shared on social media. Mosseri emphasized the importance of providing creative tools for video creators across platforms. "There's a lot going on in the world right now, but no matter what happens, we think it's our job to create the most compelling creative tools for those of you who make videos for not just Instagram but for all platforms out there," Mosseri stated.
He further elaborated that Edits is more than just a video editing tool, describing it as 'a full suite of creative tools designed for mobile video production.' The app is currently available for free pre-order and is scheduled to launch in February, with an official release date of March 13 listed on the App Store.
The introduction of Edits coincides with the ongoing challenges faced by TikTok, particularly concerning its mobile editing app, CapCut, amid a potential ban in the US due to new legislation. On January 19, the US Supreme Court upheld a law requiring ByteDance to sell TikTok to a non-Chinese buyer or face a nationwide ban, rejecting the app's free speech arguments.
Prior to the Supreme Court's decision, Trump had requested a delay in the law's enforcement, expressing a desire to explore alternatives to the ban. Following the ruling, Trump announced on Truth Social his plan to issue an executive order on Monday, extending the prohibition period to allow time for negotiations aimed at protecting national security. He assured that companies supporting the ban would not face legal consequences under the order, reiterating his objective for TikTok to have partial American ownership. Consequently, TikTok has resumed its services in the US.