Instagram has updated how Reels views are counted. Previously, even briefly seeing a piece of content on the Explore screen or profile was counted as a “view.” The user didn't actually have to open and watch the video.

Under the new system, these preview views are no longer counted. For a Reel to receive a view, the user must tap on the content and actually watch the video. That is why many accounts may have seen a drop in view counts recently.

On the other hand, this change does not directly affect reach metrics. The number of people a post reaches continues to be measured in the same way. The update provides a clearer assessment that emphasizes actual viewing behavior over numbers.