(This content was originally posted on IanSchafer.com.)
Every week, there’s a new buzz around an app that is purported to be the “Instagram for Video.”
It was Socialcam, Viddy, and several others in the past. Today it’s Ptch.
But I can confidently say that there is no “Instagram for Video.”
And for anyone over the age of 16, there may never be.
The main reason is that our brains care more about candid still moments than candid moving moments.
Think about it. If you go to a friend’s house and they have a wedding album on the coffee table, you’re likely to open it up and start a conversation about the people, the wedding, the couple or anything else that it might inspire.
But say that same friend asked you to watch their wedding or vacation video. Even just clips from the wedding or vacation. That’s not wistful reminiscence. That’s torture. Because we all know that vacation (or any amateur) videos (unless directed by Ridley Scott) are probably going to be boring. And we all know that the video you’re sharing with us on the next “Instagram for Video” is probably going to suck.
Celebrities may dominate these new apps, and spam may be used to distribute them, but the “Instagram For Video” is a MacGuffin, and probably not happening any time soon.
But if it does, I’ll revisit this post. 