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Instagram Testing New Vertical Grid Display, CEO Adam Mosseri Shares
Instagram is shaking things up with a major change to its profile layout. The popular photo-sharing platform is currently testing a vertical grid format for user profiles, moving away from the familiar square grid that has defined its aesthetic since the beginning. This change was first spotted by tech tipster Alessandro Paluzzi in 2022, and now it’s becoming a reality.
Digital marketing expert Lindsey Gamble posted this Thread on August 17th, also confirming the rumors of the new grid change:
Post by @lindseygamble_View on Threads
Recently, CEO Adam Mosseri shared insights about this shift, explaining that it reflects the evolving nature of content on the platform. He noted,
“The vast majority of what is uploaded to Instagram today is vertical. It’s either 4 by 3 in a photo or 9 by 16 in a video, and cropping it down to square is pretty brutal.” This change aims to better highlight the vertical content that users are increasingly sharing, especially given the popularity of Reels and Stories.
Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri
Some creators can already see this change, such as @notablysara and @sim_socialmedia:
How would this feed change impact creators and brands?
However, the news has sparked mixed reactions among users. While some welcome the adaptation to current content trends, others are concerned about how this change might disrupt their carefully curated profiles. Many users have invested significant time and effort into arranging their grids to look just right, and a shift to vertical rectangles could complicate that. This vertical grid change would be extremely beneficial to those who publish vertical content, however, those who have carefully curated their square feeds may end up with funky grids.
While this change is subtle, it may mean even more of a push for video content in its algorithm and rankings. If this is the case, brands need to rethink their Instagram strategies if this doesn’t already include Reels and vertical images.
As this change rolls out, creators and brands should be prepared for the change and be ready to edit thumbnails and images to reflect the 4:3 and 9:16 ratios.
Instagram spokesperson Christine Pai confirmed that this vertical grid is currently being tested with a limited group of users. She emphasized that the company is eager to gather feedback from the community before deciding on a broader rollout.
Mosseri acknowledged the potential frustration this change could cause, with, “I know this can be annoying for some of you who really spent a lot of time curating and making sure everything lines up, but I would really like to do better by the content today.” This shift towards vertical content aligns Instagram with broader trends seen across social media platforms like YouTube Shorts and TikTok, which feature vertical-only videos. The decision to implement this change on a larger scale will ultimately depend on user engagement and feedback gathered during the testing phase.
While the transition may be challenging for some, it highlights Instagram’s commitment to adapting to the changing landscape of social media and the preferences of its users.