3 Recent Instagram Updates You Need to Know About

In a constantly changing world, you can always count on social media to be evolving, changing and improving. It’s no secret Instagram is up against big competition these days – TikTok being the main competitor – and Meta is working hard to draw users away from the competing app.

I’ve recently been working on content calendars for clients for Instagram (and let’s be honest, consuming content via my personal account every day), and there are some recent changes that are changing the platform in both small and big ways.

Here’s a few recent updates to Instagram you might have missed, and how they could change your strategy:

1. The Profile Grid Will Now Have Rectangles Instead of Squares

We think this is kind of a big deal – the square grid we’ve come to associate with Instagram profiles will now be replaced with a rectangular 4:5 aspect grid, similar to what already exists on the reels tab.

The Head of Instagram Adam Mosseri (who is a great follow by the way), has explained that this change is reflective of the platform’s shift towards content with a vertical orientation, which is the majority of what Instagram users upload daily.

This update should change the way you think about creating content for your brand’s Instagram profile, whether you’re just uploading an existing image or creating a graphic. A graphic created for a square grid will look totally different when cropped to fit a 4:5 aspect rectangle on your profile page. If the majority of your content is reels, you probably will have an easy time adjusting. But if you’re uploading lots of photo carousels and singular images, you should adjust your strategy.

If you’d like to stick with the square grid, there is a way to revert back to it. However, we don’t recommend fighting the change. Rather, you should adapt to changes on Instagram’s platform and eventually embrace it, as it is likely a permanent shift.

2. Reels Can Now Be Three Minutes Long

On January 18, Instagram officially announced that Reels could be up to three minutes in length. Previously, Instagram focused on short-form video and Reels had a 90-second limit, but Mosseri has said that Instagram “heard a lot of feedback from a lot of… creators out there that 90 seconds is just too short,” according to Social Media Today.

Previously Instagram discouraged content longer than 90-seconds, but that is likely changing now that Instagram has implemented this change to Reels. We recommend playing around with longer content on the platform, which can create opportunity for more in-depth storytelling and engaging content.

3. Instagram Introduces the ‘Edits’ App

In further efforts to compete with TikTok, in January Instagram announced its own video-editing app called “Edits”. It appears the app was designed to rival CapCut, TikTok’s video editing app. The app is expected to officially launch on March 13. The app will include traditional editing tools as well as advanced tools incorporating AI animations and generated content.

We recommend testing out this tool once it is made available – however, it will not have full capabilities when launched so expect to see more updates in the future.

If you’re looking to improve and implement an Instagram and Social Media strategy, we’re here to help. Drop us a line!

By Alexis Karis