Here’s a new zinger in Instagram’s string of updates and it could change how you use the app. With over 3 billion monthly active users, Meta-owned Instagram credits much of its rapid growth to Reels and DMs. Now, the platform is testing one of its most dramatic shifts yet.
In a recent post on Threads, Instagram head Adam Mosseri revealed that the app is running an opt-in test in India where Reels could become the default home tab, replacing the traditional post feed when users open the app.Meta-owned social media platform Instagram recently announced that it has more than three billion monthly active users, attributing the majority of its growth to Reels and DMs.
Instagram Stories will continue to appear at the top of the app, but now Instagram will prioritize showing Reels before posts. This change implies that scrolling down from the home screen will lead to the well-known full-screen format.
When Meta introduced its specific iPad app, users observed that it defaulted to the Reels section. This new limited trial by the company seems to adopt a similar strategy, intending to enhance the appeal and engagement of Reels.
Additionally, individuals participating in the experiment can now swiftly access DMs from the navigation bar. Instagram is also launching a new 'Following' tab, which it claims will offer various methods to view the 'latest and greatest from the accounts you follow.'
The social media platform owned by Meta announced that it will soon introduce a new feature to enhance navigation, enabling users to effortlessly swipe between Reels, DMs, and other tabs on the bottom bar.
In the previous month, Instagram tackled a problem that limited the visibility of accounts posting several stories daily and was observed experimenting with a new YouTube-style picture-in-picture feature for Reels, enabling users to view short videos in a floating window.