Instagram’s navigation is set to change in February with a new update that sees the Reels button lose its primary position and Compose (the plus icon) will be centered.
This could be good news for photographers who prefer stills if Scroll is no longer pushed on the main navigation. Many users feel that Instagram forces them to post Stories instead of photos.
There’s certainly been a backlash against the social media app’s return to being a photo-sharing platform instead of copying the likes of TikTok. Influential celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Kylie Jenner have famously expressed their frustrations over the removal of image posts in favor of videos. Having said that, since then, Kim herself has embraced the reels by posting a lot of them.
The new update will also remove the Store tab. Instagram users will still be able to set up and run their stores on Instagram, but it looks like this feature will also be pushed less after the update.
Of course, moving the buttons around doesn’t necessarily mean anything. Don’t know if the algorithm re-prioritizes images over Reels. However, it looks like Instagram may be going back to its roots with changes. Users can embrace photos again and, in turn, shape the future of the app.
