The new Instagram update which includes Reel and Shop tabs on the homepage, seems to have the world divided.
If Twitter is anything to go off, social media users are not enjoying Instagram’s latest update, they’re saying it’s harder to navigate and would much prefer Instagram to concentrate efforts on the ever-controversial timeline algorithm.
This update is a clear attempt to make Reels more accessible to users. Instead of accidentally stumbling across them, users can now intentionally explore content, directly from their homepage. Popularisation of Reels could help Instagram encourage content creators to migrate from Tiktok with the offer of better monetization options.
Accounts using primarily video will welcome the changes as this will make their content easier to discover and, depending on how the algorithm for this works, could hit a wider audience.
Instagram has been testing its Shop tab since July, so some users have had it in their app for a while. This takes users straight through to Instagram’s in-app shopping experience, which has a very Pinterest feel to it and allows user to find personalised recommendations and support smaller businesses.
As much as people have been reluctant to embrace Instagram’s new features and updates, remember there was a time when users thought the Stories feature wouldn’t take off, after they seemingly ‘copied’ Snapchat’s model.
Hannah Lymn: Social Media Specialist 