Instagram has revamped its app's motion design to add a more human and imperfect touch to its brand. Inspired by natural human interactions like tapping and scrolling, this comprehensive motion system, created by Studio Dumbar/Dept, was guided by design rules that embrace imperfection, incorporate techniques that mimic accurate camera movements, and integrate the creators' experience.

Instagram has launched its new “Ads with Promo Codes” option to all brands globally, enabling advertisers to entice potential shoppers with promo codes listed in ad captions. This provides brands another option to track IG sales based on the promo code entered.

When you tap on a hashtag in Instagram, you’ll now see the full search results for that topic as you would see in explore. By providing access to these additional elements, Instagram is aiming to improve profile discovery, as opposed to only highlighting content. The new feature will ideally expand user search behaviors by linking them through to the various elements. It could also put more emphasis on ensuring that your target keywords are included in your profile in order to maximize discovery in the Accounts display.

Music, photos, and videos can now be shared more interactively on Instagram. A new feature called Reveal blurs the contents of a story post, preventing viewers from seeing it unless they DM the person who shared it. Another feature, Frames, overlays Polaroid images on grayscale images that turn into pictures when you shake the phone. Instagram will add a music template feature that lets users post songs directly to their stories using prompts.

When asked to split their user acquisition spend between Instagram and TikTok, 79% of respondents allotted at least 75% of their budget to Instagram. The survey was conducted in February and March 2024, before U.S. lawmakers approved a bill requiring TikTok to separate from its Chinese ownership or face a potential ban in the country. This marketer preference may be due to the perception that Meta is more advertiser-friendly.

Instagram's content team has warned marketers about posting Reels longer than 90 seconds, citing potential negative impacts on distribution within the app. The platform's evolving stance on content length optimization highlights the need for creators to pivot their strategies accordingly to ensure maximum visibility and engagement on Instagram.

Instagram launched a new informational interview series featuring a range of creators talking with Instagram development leaders about the platform and their concerns and challenges. The series is designed to provide insights directly from creators on all aspects of growing on Instagram. Topics include effective monetization approaches, community engagement, and AI advances. The first video in the series is included in the article.

Instagram is testing unskippable ads. The ads display a countdown timer and stop users from being able to browse through more content on the app until they view the ad. Instagram has shifted over the years to become more of a video-sharing network, so it makes sense that it is considering becoming more like YouTube. The majority of reactions to the feature have been negative.

Instagram's "Made with AI" label is causing concern among creatives as it mislabels even minimally edited content, like Photoshop tweaks, as AI-generated. This issue was highlighted by photographer Peter Yan, whose photo was wrongly tagged despite only minor edits. The vagueness of Instagram's policy and the inconvenience of turning off the label are raising questions about the effectiveness and accuracy of the platform's AI detection efforts.

Instagram is testing unskippable ads that pause browsing with a countdown timer, a feature reminiscent of YouTube's ad breaks. This test reflects Instagram's transition towards prioritizing video content, aligning with its features like Stories and Reels. The trial, primarily met with user discontent, reveals Meta's plans to increase ad revenue at the possible expense of user experience.

Instagram is testing out new options to enable creators to get feedback on their draft Reels clips before they post them publicly. It's also experimenting with allowing users to share their Reels with a selection of non-followers before posting. These could be helpful ways to get additional feedback on Reels concepts before sending them out.

More than half of Instagram usage is now video-based. Content that encourages sharing among friends drives the most value and engagement on the platform. Instagram is prioritizing short-form videos to foster private interactions and discussions. The app's algorithm now ranks content based on “shares per impression”, making sends a key metric for evaluating post success. Half of all video impressions are viewed with sound off. Meta is prioritizing creators over publishers to shift power towards individuals.

A collection of inspiring, on-brand, and relatable social posts by Instagram, Notion, Hootsuite, and Rhode.

Instagram Notes, a feature designed for sharing short updates with mutual followers, has seen significant growth among younger users. For marketers, this feature offers an advantage by placing your messages in a prime spot within the Instagram inbox, enhancing content visibility. Brands can foster deeper connections with their audiences by creatively utilizing Instagram Notes for alerts, teasers, and exclusive content.

Instagram's new "AI Studio" lets creators develop AI chatbot versions of themselves. It is currently rolling out as an early test in the US.

Instagram has confirmed it is not prioritizing long-form content. The platform's focus will be on connecting users with friends and helping them explore interests. Short-form video aligns better with these objectives, as long-form content reduces interaction with friends. Instagram will leave long-form video experiments to TikTok. There are no plans to revive IGTV.

Instagram is updating its metrics to emphasize "Views" as the primary focus for all content formats, including reels, photos, and stories. Creators are encouraged to prioritize reach over follower count, aligning with changes in user behavior where people rely more on algorithmic recommendations than following profiles. The update includes counting repeat views and highlights "Sends per Reach" as a crucial metric, reflecting how content is shared via DMs.

Instagram has experienced a resurgence in beauty content, with a 68% YoY increase in video views during the first half of 2024. Despite TikTok's growth in activated influencers, it has not seen corresponding increases in engagement, contrasting with past trends. Brands are increasingly relying on sponsored content, but engagement growth for these posts has been modest compared to the rise in mentions, suggesting audience fatigue.

Instagram's head, Adam Mosseri, confirmed that the company was testing a new vertical profile grid layout, moving away from the iconic square grid to align with the rise of vertical content like Reels and Stories. Currently limited to a select group, the final decision will depend on user feedback and engagement during the testing phase.

Multiple developers and reverse engineers have uncovered references to ad products in the Threads app's code, including the word “ads” itself, as well as references to sponsored items and ads configuration. However, Instagram says it's not testing ads in the app and has no immediate plans to monetize. The head of Instagram stated in April that Meta definitely plans to bring ads to Threads eventually, but Zuckerberg himself has said the team must first focus on retention and improving the basics.

Instagram's latest update allows users to add text directly to photos from the post editor, eliminating the need for third-party apps. Users can also layer another image on top as a sticker, which can be reshaped into various forms like a square, circle, heart, or star. Reels and stories also benefit from new fonts, effects, and animations for text, adding more creativity to posts. These features follow other recent updates, such as a Snap Map-like feature, songs on profiles, and the ability to share up to 20 slides in one post.

Instagram is introducing "teen accounts" with enhanced parental controls and stricter default settings. Teens under 16 will need parental permission to opt out of restrictions, and parents can monitor who their kids message without viewing the content. Instagram will use AI to identify users lying about their age and move them to teen accounts.

The article explores the phenomenon of individuals frequently watching their own Instagram Stories, a behavior that may seem peculiar at first glance. It begins by contrasting the common notion of "Instagram stalking," which typically involves scrutinizing the profiles of others, with the introspective act of self-viewing. Many users find themselves caught in a cycle of replaying their own Stories and monitoring who has viewed them, despite knowing the content intimately. The author highlights that this behavior extends beyond Stories to the overall social media experience, where users often revisit their profiles for a morale boost or to reflect on past moments. The motivations behind this self-stalking are examined through the perspectives of various individuals, revealing a mix of curiosity about how others perceive them and a desire for self-validation. Psychotherapists Eloise Skinner and Zoe Mallet provide insights into the psychological underpinnings of this behavior. They suggest that the urge to view oneself from an external perspective is rooted in a long-standing human instinct to understand how we are perceived by others. This desire for social acceptance and approval is ingrained in our nature, leading to a tendency to curate our online identities meticulously. The article also discusses how social media serves as a platform for self-presentation, where users strive to project an idealized version of themselves. This can lead to perfectionism, as individuals may repeatedly check their content to ensure it aligns with their desired image. The pressure to maintain a certain online persona can be overwhelming, prompting users to question whether they are presenting themselves in a balanced way. While the act of revisiting one's content can be a normal and even nostalgic practice, the article warns of potential pitfalls. If this behavior becomes excessive or leads to negative self-reflection, it may indicate an unhealthy relationship with social media. The authors emphasize the importance of being mindful of how self-stalking affects one's mental state, suggesting that it should be a source of comfort rather than anxiety. Ultimately, the article concludes that while the desire to revisit our own content is common, it is essential to strike a balance and remain aware of the motivations behind this behavior. The addictive nature of social media, designed to elicit validation and dopamine hits, can complicate our relationship with self-viewing, making it crucial to reflect on its impact on our overall well-being.