Parents' Guide to IGTV

If Instagram's plan with this app is to knock YouTube off its high horse, they've got a ways to go. Firstly, it carries all of the concerns parents already have about Instagram, so you can assume the content will be similar, except for longer videos. But IGTV isn't a video maker. It has no creative tools whatsoever and is meant strictly as a video-viewing tool. The main thing that makes it different from other, similar apps is its vertical display format -- a feature that's questionable at best. Sure, most people hold their phones vertically, but is it that big a deal to turn them sideways for widescreen? A bothersome side effect is that uploaded videos must be recorded in a vertical format. So your vacation video from Disneyland with all the glorious horizontal views? They're a no-go here; you'll be turning your phone 90 degrees to watch them, as always. And just that fast, a so-called feature becomes a limitation. Other than the format, the point seems to be isolating video content into channels and allowing longer videos, but with this feature already integrated into the existing Instagram app, it seems unlikely to attract those who don't use Instagram already. The interface feels clunky and unfinished, and as of this writing, it's impossible to upload anything longer than 10 minutes, sort content by category, or save your favorite videos to your channel. The best thing to be said about IGTV is that it accesses Instagram video content instantly -- itself a questionable benefit unless your Instagram faves are big on creating long-form video. The draw of Instagram's billion-strong audience will likely keep this app afloat for a little while, but it's got some work to do before it can seriously take on YouTube.