In the wake of Instagram’s recent updates and confirmation of its plans to place a bigger focus on video, we explore how it has changed and why everyone is so upset about it
While change is one of the only true guarantees in the digital world, it can be a tightrope that developers find hard to walk and a pill that online users find even harder to swallow.
This is a reality that Instagram has been faced with in recent weeks, following layout and functionality changes, and an announcement that there will be an overall shift of focus from photography to video.
The changes have prompted a significant backlash from disgruntled users who fear the app has gone a step too far away from its photo-sharing roots.
Below, we unpack the most recent announcements, look at the reaction from users, explore how Instagram has changed through the years, and list some alternative photo-sharing apps.
What are the recent changes to Instagram?
There are three main changes that have received the most recent attention. These concern full-screen feed, in-feed recommendations, and Reels, as detailed in this recent blog post from the Instagram Business Team.
Full-screen feed
This feature, which is currently being tested with a small proportion of Instagram users, sees a move away from Instagram’s traditional square aspect ratio and towards a portrait format designed to fill the screen of a smartphone. These can be scrolled through individually using an up- or down-swipe action.
In-feed recommendations
The second change is a greater proportion of in-feed recommendations, whereby posts from accounts that users do not follow appear in their feed as suggested content. These recommendations are chosen specifically for an individual based on their previous engagement.
Reels updates
Finally, not only will all videos on Instagram now be Reels, but the feature has also seen a number of updates to provide greater creative options such as filters and editing tools.
Why is Instagram making these updates?
In response to growing concerns that the app is losing touch with its photography roots, Head of Instagram Adam Mosseri posted a video to his profile to explain the changes in more detail.
“If you’re seeing a new full-screen version of feed, or you’re hearing about it, know that that is a test, it’s a test to a few percentage [sic] of people out there and the idea is that a more full-screen experience – not only for videos but for photos – might be a more fun, engaging experience.”
He goes on to clarify that it is still a work in progress. “I also want to be clear, it’s not yet good,” he says. “And we’re going to have to get it to a good place if we’re going to ship it to the rest of the Instagram community.”
He goes on to explain that the decision to introduce more recommendations has creators at heart.
“We’re going to continue to try and get better at recommendations because we think it’s one of the most effective and important ways to help creators reach more people.
“We want to do our best by creators, particularly small creators, and we see recommendations as one of the best ways to help them reach a new audience and grow their following.”
When addressing the move towards video, he tells followers that Instagram is simply reacting to the changing behavior of users on the app, saying: “I do believe that more and more of Instagram is going to become video over time. We see this even if we change nothing … If you look at what people share on Instagram, that’s shifting more and more to videos over time. If you look at what people like and consume and view on Instagram, that’s also shifting more and more to video over time. So we’re going to have to lean into that shift.”
While TikTok’s name is not mentioned, there is much to suggest that these Instagram changes are a response to increased pressure from the rival app, which reached 1 billion monthly users in 2021.
For example, the updates to Reels and the full-screen feed offer features and a user interface that is more in line with TikTok’s offering, while the move away from square format better suits mobile video content.
What has been the reaction?
These changes have been met with opposition from many Instagram users, notably Kim Kardashian and Kylie Jenner, who recently reshared a post saying:
“Make Instagram Instagram again. (stop trying to be tiktok i just want to see cute photos of my friends.) Sincerely, everyone” [sic]
With each of them boasting over 300 million followers, this has unsurprisingly gained traction, pushing an associated petition to over 300,000 signatures.
Mosseri did not refer to the famous sisters in his video post, but it’s likely this news is what prompted him to make his attempts at reassurance – a sensible move when you consider that Kylie Jenner reportedly knocked $1.3bn off Snapchat’s market value in 2018 after tweeting that she no longer used the app.
How has Instagram changed throughout the years?
This is by no means the first time that Instagram has evolved in line with industry trends. Here is a timeline of major updates that could be attributed to threats from competition.
| 2013 – Short-form (15-second) video was introduced in what many believe was a move to fight the now-defunct Vine, a video-sharing platform acquired by Twitter in 2012. |
| 2016 – Stories was introduced, arguably to compete with Snapchat, whose temporary video messaging format was quickly growing in popularity. |
| 2018 – IGTV was introduced, which allowed users to post videos up to an hour in length, and was seen as a challenge to video-streaming giant YouTube. |
| 2019 – Checkout was introduced as a way for users to buy products without leaving the Instagram app, which could be seen as an attempt to take a piece of the e-commerce pie from eBay and Amazon. |
| 2020 – Reels was introduced and there was little doubt that Instagram was hoping to mitigate the effects of the phenomenon that is TikTok. |
Instagram alternatives for photographers
With so many photographers unhappy about Instagram’s move towards video, many are looking for alternative platforms. Indeed, many have already reported an increase in users since Instagram’s announcement.
Here are a few alternatives to Instagram for those who want a photography-focused experience.
Flickr
Released: 2007
Website: flickr.com
Flickr was one of the first online photo-sharing platforms and, as such, enjoyed huge popularity with professional image makers. While Instagram may have tempted many of its users away, these recent changes have led to a resurgence in its popularity.
VSCO
Released: 2011
Website: vsco.co
There are many similarities between VSCO and Instagram, including photo editing and filter presets. But it’s the differences that may convince current Instagrammers to make the switch.
First, it is possible to reshare other users’ photos, which is not something Instagram makes easy. Second, the number of followers a profile has is only visible to the owner, which is designed to place the focus back on creativity and talent, as opposed to popularity.
500px
Released: 2009
Website: 500px.com
500px has had somewhat of a checkered past. Following its launch, it enjoyed great popularity with photographers for its ability to store, showcase, and sell photography, and was sold to Visual China Group in 2019.
However, that same year details of a hacking incident came to light and a controversial Terms of Service update was announced, which meant the app began to fall out of favor with users.
Nevertheless, 500px is still operational, so Instagram’s recent changes may prompt photographers to dip their toe back in.
Glass
Released: 2021
Website: glass.photo
With still photography being its sole focus, Glass has recently been getting the attention of photographers looking for an Instagram alternative.
There are no ads, no engagement algorithms, and no tracking, although this does come at the price of a subscription.
BeReal
Released: 2020
Website: bere.al
BeReal aims to encourage users to, well … be real. There are no filters or editing tools and users are allowed to post just one photo a day within a random two-minute window.
The app notifies all users of this window at the same time, and also takes a simultaneous selfie to show the photographer’s expression at the time of capture.
This format means that, while BeReal may not be suitable for creatives looking to showcase their portfolio, it certainly helps to deliver a level of authenticity that has arguably been lost on Instagram.
Conclusion
So what’s the future for Instagram? In Mosseri’s words: “We’re going to stay committed to supporting photos. We’re going to stay in a place where we try and put your friends’ content at the top of the feed and at the front of stories whenever possible, but we’re also going to need to evolve because the world is changing quickly. And we’re going to have to change along with it.”
No one can dispute the need to stay relevant in such a fickle digital environment. Just take a look at the timeline of Instagram changes above, which have likely helped fuel the app’s growth into the behemoth it is today.
However, some might say that Instagram is selling out, arguing that, while people’s content consumption may change and increasingly include new and more advanced mediums, there will always be a market for the humble photograph as a form of expression.
Whether you are for or against it, it is clear that change is most definitely afoot for Instagram. And although the app has played down its proposals, it’s certainly time to accept that a video focus is here to stay.
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