The Latest Instagram Updates for 2022

Instagram is about to undergo one of its most significant updates ever as the platform aims to create a more immersive viewing experience.

In this guide, we’re going to be taking a look at all of the new changes Instagram is rolling out and what this means for your business.

The New TikTok Style Format

Instagram is currently trialling a new format similar to that of TikTok, where photo and video posts take up the full screen with a 9:16 ratio in order to “bring video more front and centre” and make scrolling through the feed more immersive.

The move to a more video based platform started when Instagram introduced Reels in 2020 following the success of TikTok.

Since then, the algorithm has started to favour video based content, displaying more videos than photos on users’ feeds. Having noticed this shift in the algorithm, many creators have started to turn static images into videos in order to be more seen on their followers’ feeds.

In the test of the full-screen feed, you are still able to use the bottom navigation bar to access the discovery tab, Reels, shopping and your profile. A representative from Instagram has also confirmed that Stories will remain at the top of the feed.

What About the Square Ratio for Images?

Any old Instagram posts and new ones that are still in the square ratio will be given a blurred border to fit the new 9:16 ratio.

Although this still allows for the shorter style images to be posted, we would recommend formatting all of your new business images and videos to match the new style in order to make your posts look professional and cohesive with the rest of the feed once the update is fully rolled out.

Recommendations

Another new change to the Instagram feed is the addition of recommendations. Instead of reserving recommended content to the Discovery page, Instagram will now insert posts they think you will be interested in amongst the posts from people you follow on your home feed.

According to the CEO of Instagram, Adam Mosseri, a larger part of the feed will be “recommendations” and “things we think you might love but you might not have heard of yet”.

This comes after the success of TikTok, which looks at hundreds of factors in how the user responds to videos, including how long they spend watching each clip, whether they click ‘like’ or ‘not interested’, the accounts they follow and the hashtags the user searches.

With this data, they then add similar videos, or videos that people with similar interests liked, to the ‘For You Page’, meaning people see more and more of what they like with a feed tailored to them.

It makes sense that Instagram is eager to replicate this type of algorithm as the more interested users are in the content they see, the more likely they are to keep scrolling and stay on the app.

So far, users who have been part of the trial have expressed a divide in opinions, with some asking to stop seeing posts from people they don’t follow.

However, for businesses this new recommendations feature is a fantastic opportunity to reach wider and more relevant audiences.

Now, users who are deemed likely to be interested in your business will start to see your posts on their feeds, even if they don’t follow you.

By allowing accounts with fewer followers to be seen by more people, it is much more possible to go viral and get your brand seen by a greater number of users.

The New Logo

Earlier in the month, many users noticed the Instagram app icon had become a lot more vibrant and now we know why. This is yet another part of Instagram’s new transformation.

According to the designer who was behind the logo’s refresh, Rose Pilkington (@rosepilky) the idea behind the design was to “enhance, refresh and illuminate with a whole new set of vivid colours”.

The gradient was reimagined, built entirely in 3D with “vibrant colours to make it feel illuminated, alive and to signal moments of discovery”.

The New Font and Wordmark

A much more noticeable change is the new typeface Instagram is using: Instagram Sans.

This typeface is much more fun and has been based on the ‘squircle’ (the rounded square of the Instagram logo) and can be used in Stories and Reels. It has also been incorporated into the brand’s wordmark, replacing the handwritten style for a more contemporary and playful look.

When Will the Updates Be Fully Rolled Out?

So far these changes are only being trialled and Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri said that they are aiming to “learn as much as we can over these next few weeks” before they make the decision whether or not to introduce the features to all users.

This could mean that Instagram decides against going forward with the new layout changes if they receive a significant amount of negative feedback.

Get Help from the Professionals

If you’re unsure of how to keep up with all of the latest social media developments, our team of social experts at Statuo can help you to create a comprehensive social media strategy.

We’re always looking out for the latest trends and content ideas and can help you to run a successful campaign to meet your goals, whether that be to increase brand awareness, engagement, reach new audiences or make more conversions.

For expert help with creating your social media strategy, get in touch with our team today at Statuo!

For more of the latest marketing news and updates for your business, check out our other handy guides on our blog!