Instagram’s Mosseri Positions App for TikTok Turmoil

Meta Platforms has put the turmoil around TikTok to good use. Amid a barrage of headlines about the White House’s efforts to broker a deal for the app—and China’s move to quash one—the Instagram owner has been reiterating to creators that it’s a smart alternative. 

Last week, Instagram head Adam Mosseri told his staff that if TikTok were banned or otherwise disrupted, Instagram would have to be willing to assume more risk to take advantage of the situation, according to a current employee. It’s unclear what Mosseri meant by “risk,” but Instagram could make a move even more aggressive than launching a standalone app for its short-form-video feature Reels.