Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has announced that Instagram will soon begin testing a full-screen redesign of its main feed.
If you blinked, you might have missed Zuckerberg’s ad, because it was done via Instagram Story.
Here are some screenshots showing a before (top) and after (bottom) comparison of the new design:
Image credit: Screenshot from Instagram.com/Zuck, June 2022.This makes Instagram look like a TikTok clone, with content taking up the entire length of the screen.
A small area at the bottom is for navigation, while every other element is overlaid on the content.
To remedy any confusion about the new design, Zuckerberg follows up by explaining that photos will continue to be an important part of Instagram.
The redesign won’t just turn Instagram into videos.
Image credit: Screenshot from Instagram.com/Zuck, June 2022.In case you can’t see the image above, Zuckerberg’s statement reads:
We want to make it easier to discover content and connect with friends.
Photos are still an important part of Instagram, and we’re working on ways to improve the way they appear in the full screen feed as well.
Some people will start seeing this test soon.
Checked out to hear your feedback.”
It will be interesting to see how this works in implementation, as Instagram images are not currently uploaded in full screen dimensions.
In order to achieve this, the app will likely have to crop the sides of the image, which can lead to a loss of detail.
Zuckerberg’s commitment to preserving the photo-sharing experience on Instagram contrasts with what Adam Mosseri, head of Instagram, has said over the past year.
In July 2021, Mosseri went so far as to say, “We are no longer a photo-sharing app.”
In late January, Mosseri outlined his plans for Instagram this year, saying that videos and messages are the top priorities.
While photos will still be part of the new Instagram feed, this is clearly not seen as an area of growth for the company.
Video, especially short video, is now the engine of growth. Even Facebook is shifting its focus to video, a focus prompted by a stock drop in February.
Recently, an internal memo sent to Facebook employees announced imminent plans to restructure the feed around video.
There is no guarantee that the investment in the video will pay off. It has the potential to drive away loyal users as much as it attracts new ones.
It’s definitely a risk. We’ll likely have brand new Instagram and Facebook feeds before the end of the year, so be prepared for changes.
Featured image: Natalia Ustsinava/Shutterstock
