Instagram Tests A Full-Screen Immersive Experience On The Home Feed

Source: Instagram

Instagram launched a test of a full-screen Home Feed. In a recent video by Instagram head Adam Mosseri, he revealed the platform is testing a new, full-screen immersive experience in the Home feed, where photos and videos take up a larger portion of the screen.

When users open up the app, they will immediately see content in the vertical format. Based on the screenshots shared, much of the current Instagram user experience will remain the same with the buttons for Search, Reels, and Shopping being accessible via the bottom navigation bar and Notifications, Messaging, and New Post buttons remaining in the top navigation bar. Instagram also confirmed that the Stories bar will remain where it is today as part of the test. According to Mosseri, this test is part of Instagram’s efforts to “advance Instagram forward in a world where more people are mobile-first.”

The new full-screen Home feed experience makes a lot of sense since it optimizes the viewing experience for short-form video content. As the platform has revealed in its last few earnings calls and public statements, Reels is one of its biggest priorities so it’s a no-brainer that it would make changes that better support this format. Instagram built its popularity on photos and the ability to see content from your followers, but the Instagram seen today is video-based and features content from accounts that users don't follow. It can either be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on personal preferences. Instagram's dramatic changes may dissuade users who have been on the app since it was a simple photo-sharing app, but if the market is any indication, it is putting itself in a better position to compete with TikTok.