Instagram has been rolling its new home page layout update. It seems we should say goodbye to the timeless square-based photo home page and say hello to a whole bunch of features.
The Homepage Stitch
Reels will be taking over as the main content on the homepage. You are going to open up to these short, addictive videos posted by both people you follow and those you don’t. To support the video format on the homepage, the aspect ratio will change to a new 9:16 ratio with a blurred background and full-screen look. The new ratio is undoubtedly shifting the ideal of photo media to putting videos more front and center on the platform.
Instagram’s CEO Adam Mosseri shares that “video and messaging is important to the future of Instagram and a larger part of the feed will become recommendations, things you might love and haven’t heard of yet.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/CdGwum5AWk7/
The Reactions
Despite the change being rolled out slowly, there has been a mass reaction. Users who aren’t fans of the change claim that accessibility has been reduced as it’s difficult to locate captions, geotags, and time stamps. Others say the new ratio will lead to the death of photography on the platform. Some feel the authenticity of Instagram is lacking as it reflects the style of one of its competitor apps-TikTok.
Yet there is hope. The amendments are designed to increase reach and encourage content creation. The full-screen aspect is set to heighten the immersive experience so that users can pay attention to the details of each piece of content. It is also the transition to strengthen the algorithm and allow content to reach the right users.
Stay updated on all of our latest news by subscribing to our Newsletter below.