In a significant shift aimed at solidifying its position in the competitive short-form video landscape, Instagram is testing a major interface overhaul that fundamentally reorders the user experience. The experiment, currently limited to users in India and South Korea, is designed to align the app with the platform’s biggest engagement drivers: Reels and Direct Messages (DMs).
Instead of the traditional feed of static photos and stories, users in the test group are immediately greeted by a full-screen, immersive Reels feed upon opening the app. While the familiar Stories bar remains at the top, a simple scroll pushes the user into a non-stop stream of vertical video content, echoing the design made popular by rival TikTok. This change follows the launch of Instagram’s iPad version, which already defaults to a Reels-first experience, suggesting a broader, long-term strategy by parent company Meta.
Beyond the Reels-centric homepage, the app’s navigation is also receiving a significant shake-up. The DM icon, traditionally tucked away in the top-right corner, has been moved to a more prominent position in the bottom navigation bar.
You will now get:
- When you open Instagram, you’ll land directly in Reels. Stories remain at the top, making it easy to connect with friends.
- DMs are now just one swipe away in the navigation bar for quick access to conversations from anywhere in the app.
- There will also be a new “Following” tab, which gives you multiple ways to see the latest and greatest from the accounts you follow:
- All: Recommended posts and Reels from accounts you follow.
- Friends: Recommended posts and Reels from accounts you follow who also follow you back.
- Latest: Chronological posts and Reels from accounts you follow, with the newest content first.
Instagram head Adam Mosseri notes that this change reflects how users actually engage with the app. Photos from followed accounts are still present, but their placement and frequency within the new feed remain a point of discussion for creators who rely on still imagery.
According to Mosseri, Reels and DMs are responsible for most of Instagram’s recent growth, with the platform recently surpassing 3 billion monthly users.
“Reels and DMs have driven most all our growth at Instagram over the last few years, so we are exploring making them the first two tabs,” he said.
This redesign is a direct response to those usage patterns, making the most popular features more accessible. It might be Instagram’s aggressive play to fend off competition from TikTok and YouTube Shorts. Users also report that they feel Instagram is leaning heavily into “lean back entertainment.”
By prioritizing short-form video, Instagram aims to increase discovery, boost engagement, and extend user session times.
As a result of this new app outlook, creators focused on video content may see increased visibility and engagement. While those who rely on still photography may find their work less prominent. The repositioning of DMs could lead to higher usage of messaging, further cementing it as a primary mode of communication on the platform.