Instagram’s new video channels will help you geek out over your obsessions

Instagram wants you to watch more video.

The company is adding new topic-based video channels to the "explore" section of the app. The channels, which will be labeled as "picked for you," will surface based on topics you may be interested in.

Instagram first introduced video channels to the explore section of the app in an update last spring. But the latest update adds a couple dozen new topical channels that allow users to watch clips around specific interests they may have.

The 23 new channels cover a wide variety of topics and range from super specific ("hair braiding" and "special effects makeup") to more general interests ("fishing" and "ceramics").

Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

The channels are algorithmically generated and curated by Instagram. The company hasn't elaborated on how it determines which ones to show to each user, but we're guessing it's based on the same or similar factors that power the rest of Explore's recommendations, including the accounts you follow and posts you have liked in the past. 

Like Facebook, Instagram has been steadily ramping up its video efforts in recent months. The app introduced 60-second videos and a new video ad format. These changes, along with a bigger emphasis on video in the explore section, appear to be paying off -- total video viewing time on the platform has increased 150% over the last six months, the company said in a statement Thursday. And adding 20+ new topic channels will likely only increase video engagement throughout the platform.

A full list of Instagram's new topic-based channels is below (though more will be added in future updates):

• Oddly Satisfying
  

• Cheerleaders
  

• Dancers
  

• Calligraphy
  

• Special Effects Makeup
  

• Comedians
  

• Barbers
  

• Cake Decorating
  

• Ceramics
  

• Comic Book Artists
  

• Pitbulls
  

• Gymnasts
  

• Nail Artists
  

• Hair Tutorials
  

• Singers
  

• Bakers
  

• Makeup Tutorials
  

• Ballet Dancers
  

• Trickshots
  

• Artists
  

• Makers & Artisans
  

• Baseball Players
  

• Skateboarders
  

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