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Instagram is now available on your big screen devices as well

It’s time for cinematic doomscrolling.

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By Aman Kumar

Published: Dec 17, 2025, 2:08 AM

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Apps Amazon

Five different Instagram profiles on Amazon Fire TV.

Thumbnail by Meta

Instagram is expanding its availability beyond smartphones and Windows devices, as it now has an official app for Amazon Fire TV too.

Watch reels on the big screen now

During this year's Bloomberg Screentime event, Instagram head Adam Mosseri said they are "exploring TV" when asked about rumors of an Instagram TV app. He also mentioned that it was a mistake for Meta not to have a dedicated Instagram app for TV until now. Just over two months after the event, Adam posted a video on his Instagram account announcing that the social media app is now available on Amazon Fire TV.

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A post shared by Adam Mosseri (@mosseri)

The app is currently available in the US on a limited number of Amazon Fire TV devices, including the Fire TV Stick HD, Fire TV Stick 4K Plus, both the first and second generations of the Fire TV Stick 4K Max, Fire TV 2-Series, Fire TV 4-Series, and Fire TV Omni QLED Series. Meta reportedly plans to expand the app to more devices and countries soon.

You first need to install the app from the Amazon Appstore and log in with your account. For now, you can add up to five Instagram accounts to the TV app, allowing all your family members to enjoy their Instagram accounts on the big-screen device.

The Instagram TV app experience is slightly different from its experience on smartphones. Unlike the smartphone version, the big-screen version of the Instagram app doesn't include the messaging feature, at least for now. You're currently limited to reels, which are grouped into different categories relevant to your interests.

Select a reel, sit back, and relax on your couch as the app automatically switches to the next one without requiring you to scroll manually. You can skip a reel if you don't like it, though. Furthermore, you can let the app know that you'd prefer to see more of a particular type of reel by liking it or engaging with its comments.

Meta mentions that more features will be added to the app in the near future. The ability to use your smartphone as a remote within the app, share reels with friends, and explore new ways to browse channels will be among the first few features that will be introduced to the social media app.

What actions do you take to avoid overconsumption of social media like Instagram?

Use screen time limit apps. Replace scrolling with offline activities. Turn off social media app notifications. Uninstall social media apps from your phone.

We're so cooked

Instagram app interface on Amazon Fire TV.

Instagram app on Amazon Fire TV. | Image by Meta

The National Institutes of Health reports that the overconsumption of short-form content, such as Instagram reels, is one of the main reasons behind the low attention span commonly seen among social media users today. With the Instagram app now available on TV, I'm quite confident that doomscrolling will become even more prevalent in the future.

There will likely be many instances where users will get bored of watching reels on their smartphones and switch to their TVs to watch more reels instead of engaging with long-form content such as shows or movies. Additionally, the app's feature that automatically scrolls to the next reel without requiring user interaction will only add fuel to the fire. Ultimately, all of this will lead to an even more consumption of short-form content.

We already have the YouTube app available for smart TVs, where the Shorts section serves as the main hub for short-form content. Now, the introduction of the Instagram app for TV is likely going to make things even more challenging for parents who want to limit their children's short-form video or social media consumption.

Interestingly, Instagram isn't the only social media app available for smart TVs. Its main rival, TikTok, introduced its app for Fire TV back in 2020 and later expanded it to other devices such as Google TV and Samsung Smart TVs in 2021. Quibi, which was an American short-form streaming platform, also had its own TV app. However, the app and the company itself was shut down due to low demand in late 2020.

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Aman Kumar is a tech news writer with a long-standing passion for smartphones. Aman specializes in everything smartphones, from AI features like Pixel’s Camera Coach to understanding ideal hardware combinations. He loves breaking down complex features in a simple, clear way and hopes manufacturers bring back bold designs like the Nokia N-Gage. When he’s not writing, he’s either gaming on PUBG or talking fitness as a dedicated gym enthusiast.

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