Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced that Instagram will soon begin testing a full-screen redesign of its main feed.
If you blinked, you probably missed Zuckerberg’s announcement, as it came via Instagram Stories.
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.
Image credit: Screenshot from Instagram.com/Zuck, June 2022.This makes Instagram look more like a TikTok clone, with content taking up the entire length of the screen.
A small area at the bottom is reserved for navigation, while all other elements are overlaid on the content.
To make up for any confusion surrounding the new design, Zuckerberg later clarified that photos will continue to be a big part of Instagram.
The redesign won’t just turn Instagram into a video.
Image credit: Screenshot from Instagram.com/Zuck, June 2022.If you can’t see the photo 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 also working on improving how they appear in our full-screen feed.
Some people will soon start seeing this test.
Sign out to hear your feedback. “
It will be interesting to see how this works in execution as Instagram photos are not currently uploaded at full screen size.
To achieve this, the application may have to crop the sides of the photo, which may result in loss of detail.
Zuckerberg’s commitment to preserving the photo-sharing experience on Instagram is in stark contrast to what Instagram head Adam Mosseri has said over the past year.
In July 2021, Mosseri even said: ‘We are no longer a photo sharing app.
In late January, Mosseri outlined his plans for Instagram this year, saying Video and messaging are top priorities.
While photos will still be part of the new Instagram feed, it’s clearly not seen as a growth area for the company.
Video, especially short videos, is the current growth driver.even facebook Shift focus to videowhich was a pivot triggered by the stock slump in February.
Recently, an internal memo to Facebook employees announced a looming plan Restructure your feed around video.
There is no guarantee that an investment in video will pay off. While it attracts new users, it has the potential to drive away loyal users.
To be sure, it’s a risk. We’ll likely have brand new Instagram and Facebook feeds by the end of the year, so be prepared for changes.
Featured image: Natalia Ustsinava/Shutterstock
