Main Highlight:
- The retreat Instagram announced today is not permanent
- Instagram users downvoted the changes
- Reworking the recommendation algorithm
- Instagram feed changes and redesign halted
- The changes could only be temporary
You’ve undoubtedly noticed that your Instagram has been acting strangely recently. You’re not seeing as many posts from your friends, and you’re getting inundated with posts from people you don’t follow, as well as a slew of Reels (Instagram’s response to TikTok’s short video format).
It’s no secret that Instagram is attempting to emulate TikTok, and it was recently revealed that the firm will be developing a full-screen home feed. This meant that when users opened Instagram, they would see full-screen videos and photographs, much like on TikTok.
Instagram began testing a full-screen feed on the app last month, similar to TikTok’s design.
However, Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri revealed in an interview that the test version of the app that allowed users to see full-screen photographs and videos will be taken off over the next one to two weeks, and Instagram will also temporarily restrict the number of suggested posts that users see.
Instagram is reversing some of the contentious modifications it made recently. Following the criticism of recent modifications, Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri stated in a new interview that the firm has to “take a large step back and regroup.”
Users were displeased with the aforementioned alterations and the news of this new home feed. Initially, Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri was convinced that this was the future of Instagram, saying that while the service will “continue to support images,” it would pivot to videos.
Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta, which owns Instagram, has stated that over the next two years, both Facebook and Instagram will continue to offer more “suggested” content.
This eventually led to the birth of the “Make Instagram Instagram again” meme, which went viral and was spearheaded mostly by Kylie Jenner and her sister Kim Kardashian.
I’m glad we took a risk — if we’re not failing every once in a while, we’re not thinking big enough or bold enough. But we definitely need to take a big step back and regroup. [When] we’ve learned a lot, then we come back with some sort of new idea or iteration. So we’re going to work through that.
That doesn’t mean changes to Instagram won’t come someday. Though Instagram is walking back on the changes now, Mosseri also said that the company would work to improve the way its recommendation algorithms work, so it could be a matter of time before we start seeing more “recommended” posts again.
Mosseri said:
When you discover something in your field that you didn’t follow before, there should be a high bar — it should just be great. You should be delighted to see it. And I don’t think that’s happening enough right now. So I think we need to take a step back, in terms of the percentage of feed that are recommendations, get better at ranking and recommendations, and then — if and when we do — we can start to grow again.
To be fair, Instagram is in a quandary. The firm, which was once the darling of social media, is now under great pressure from TikTok. TikTok is now the most downloaded app in the world, as well as the most viewed website. And, although I commend the company’s quick response and willingness to try something new, it needs to figure out its path and what it’s excellent at or risk alienating its consumers.
Finally, it must ask itself: Does it want to continue to be Instagram and remain unique, or does it want to be some pathetic TikTok clone?
Reworking the Recommendation Algorithm
Along with eliminating the full-screen feed, the app will temporarily restrict the amount of recommended material that you see. Mosseri predicted that Instagram will strengthen its algorithms and personalisation capabilities before ramping up the number of suggestions again.
“There should be a high threshold when you discover something in your feed that you didn’t follow previously,” Mosseri argues. “You should be overjoyed to see it.” And I don’t believe that’s occurring nearly enough right now. So, in terms of the amount of feed that is suggestions, I believe we need to take a step back, improve our ranking and recommendations, and then — if and when we do — we can begin to expand again.”
During the interview, Mosseri attempted to rationalise the app’s prevalence of suggested posts by claiming that they were critical in assisting Instagram producers in growing their following. This follows the declaration by Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg that the firm intends to “more than double” the quantity of suggested material that appears in users’ feeds by the end of next year.
Instagram feed changes and redesign halted
Instagram has been criticised by users all around the world in recent weeks. Influencers such as Kylie Jenner and Kim Kardashian, for example, have asked the business to “Make Instagram Instagram again.” As we’ve seen before, strong influencers activating a platform may have significant ramifications.
Mosseri, Instagram’s CEO, first responded to criticism with a video effectively backing down on the changes, which included more Reels and videos on your feed. He recognised that Instagram will “continue to promote photographs,” but said “over time, more and more of Instagram will become video.”
Furthermore, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg recently stated that Instagram and Facebook feeds would continue to include more “suggested” content over the next two years. Zuckerberg stated that the firm intends to “more than double” the amount of AI-recommended Instagram feed material.
However, Mosseri has stated that Instagram would reverse some of its recent unpopular modifications. Mosseri told Casey Newton for his Platformer newsletter that he’s delighted Instagram took the risk, but that the firm has heard the criticisms.
The changes could only be temporary
The specifics of what will happen on Instagram are rather hazy. According to Mosseri, the firm would “temporarily decrease” the number of suggested articles and profiles in your feed. Looking ahead, Mosseri predicts that Instagram will certainly grow that number if its ranking and recommendation algorithms improve.
Finally, Mosseri stated that Instagram’s contentious overhaul will be halted. The new design featured full-screen photographs and videos, making the app extremely similar to services such as TikTok. It had only been made available to a “small fraction” of people.
The Instagram feed makeover has been highly criticised, and even Mosseri admitted that “the use statistics isn’t terrific.” As a result, the firm will “retreat, regroup, and figure out how we want to move ahead.”
