The act of capturing video of what is displayed on an Instagram user’s device is increasingly common. This typically involves using a built-in feature of the phone’s operating system or a third-party application to record the screen while viewing content such as Stories, Reels, or live broadcasts within the Instagram app. A user might, for example, capture a tutorial Reel to reference later or save a visually appealing Story shared by a friend.
This functionality allows for the preservation of ephemeral content, facilitating its reuse or sharing outside of the platform’s intended limitations. Historically, such content was intended to disappear, but this practice circumvents those restrictions. Further, it allows users to create archives of information or entertainment found on Instagram and to share content across different platforms where such content might not otherwise be accessible.