Meta adds Edits audio tools and Instagram Reels reference mode
Meta adds audio links, trending insights and style kits to Edits, plus a new Reels reference tool on iOS, while ending linked Reels on Oct. 28.
What happened
Meta announced a new slate of video creation options for its Edits app, while also adding a new way to create Reels in the main Instagram app using another clip as a reference. In Edits, creators now get clickable audio links, insights into what is trending among their audience, and the option to create custom kits for style combinations. Edits also gained more visual effects tools.
Audio links let Reels creators add links to specific songs and sounds, which viewers can tap to hear. Trending topics will provide Reels creators with more insight into what is driving engagement among audiences, though this is only available to creators with more than 10,000 followers right now. Kits lets creators save certain visual style elements into a dedicated group, so they can return to a specific style whenever they choose.
In Instagram, Meta added a new option that enables Reels creators to use another clip as a reference. Instagram explained the process:
“Open a Reel that’s shorter than 90 seconds, tap the three dot menu, and select 'Use as reference.' The Reel opens in a small window in your camera, so you can watch it as many times as you need before you record.”
Creators can move the player around within the composer screen and pause playback at any time. The option also includes a countdown to make it easier to sync with the original clip. It is currently only available in the iOS version of the app.
Instagram also told users that it is removing the option to link Reels in a series, effective beginning Oct. 28. Instagram added Reels linking in August 2025 to help creators build a series of connected Reels clips and extend viewer engagement.
Key facts
- Edits audio links let Reels creators add links to specific songs and sounds; viewers can tap to hear.
- Trending topics insights are only available to creators with more than 10,000 followers right now.
- Kits lets creators save visual style elements into a dedicated group and return to a specific style whenever they choose.
- The new Instagram reference mode works with Reels shorter than 90 seconds and includes a movable player, pause control, and countdown.
- Instagram is removing the option to link Reels in a series, effective beginning Oct. 28, after introducing the feature in August 2025.
Our analysis
These updates point to a different workflow for Reels creators. The reference tool reduces the manual work of aligning response videos with an original clip; creators can now pause and reposition the source Reel instead of switching between screens. That likely makes response and commentary formats easier to produce, especially where timing against the original matters.
The removal of Reels linking is a more significant signal. As reported by creator economy expert Lia Haberman, Instagram is removing the option to simplify the Reels experience. Meta has been exploring new opportunities for long-form content, so the change likely suggests a move away from guiding users through a series of short linked clips and toward longer standalone videos. Creators who built series using linked Reels will need to shift to posting larger videos or self-contained Reels.
Audience insights being gated to creators above 10,000 followers also suggests Meta is prioritizing established accounts. Smaller creators and operators will likely have to track trend signals manually or through other tools until the threshold is met.
What it means for operators
- Test the “Use as reference” option on iOS now for response videos and trend reactions; the countdown and movable player can speed up alignment work.
- Before Oct. 28, audit any linked Reels series and plan how to convert them into standalone clips or a single longer video, since the linking option is going away.
- If you manage an account with more than 10,000 followers, use the new trending topics insights in Edits to align content with what your audience is engaging with.
- Save brand-specific visual styles as Kits in Edits so multiple creators or team members can apply the same look without rebuilding it each time.
Source:Meta adds audio links and reference Reels to Edits — Social Media Today(2026-10-15)
Editor's note: prepared by the NoobClaw newsroom with AI assistance from the public report above. Facts are as reported by the source; the analysis is our view. Spotted an error? Contact us and we will correct it.