The question of whether Instagram tallies the content creator’s views on their own Reels is a common one. The prevailing consensus is that the platform does, in fact, include the content creator’s own initial view in the overall view count. This initial playback occurs automatically when the Reel is published.
Understanding how views are accumulated is important for creators who are tracking the performance of their content. The view count serves as a visible metric for gauging the reach and engagement of Reels, influencing both creator strategies and platform algorithms. Knowledge of this also informs interpretation of engagement data.