Instagram is testing a significant redesign in India, presenting some users with a ‘Reels-first’ feature. The Meta-run app will now prioritize short video clips and messaging as the Reels trend continues to gain momentum worldwide.
Through this update, users will be able to launch the app directly onto the Instagram Reels feed, making it the primary interface instead of the usual homepage. This shift comes closely on the heels of the platform reaching over 3 billion monthly active users globally, highlighting its growing reach and influence.
The new interface maintains Instagram Stories visible at the top of the screen, and direct messages (DMs) are conveniently just a swipe away from the navigation menu, making communication easier.
Meta is also adding a new ‘Following’ tab, where users can view content from the accounts they follow in three ways: a single feed, a ‘Friends’ view displaying shared followers, and a chronological ‘Latest’ section. It’s all about giving users control over how they experience content while maintaining the simplicity of things.
According to Meta, the launch of this pilot program in India serves as evidence of the country’s significant contribution to the Reels culture. The feature is one of the most famous marketing tools on Instagram. According to a report from the tech giant, all of its products experience more than 4.5 billion daily shares on the platform.
India is a primary incubation ground for new features being rolled out worldwide, with its sky-high social media user growth and custom usage of short-form video content.
The Reels-first test is one aspect of a larger plan to streamline Instagram’s navigation system globally. DMs will now be presented in the middle of the navigation bar, and Reels is the second option.
People will be able to swipe seamlessly between the video, chat, and feed portions, making the product more straightforward to use. Meta explains that this will enable people to spend less time searching and more time engaging.
Instagram hopes that by focusing on Reels and streamlining navigation, users will be able to more easily discover content of interest, catch up with friends, and share their own creative ideas. The company believes the moves could boost engagement on the platform and further enhance its attraction among teenagers, the most prolific consumers of short-form video.
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The official rollout to the general public has not yet happened, and it can take weeks before the larger user base receives it. Meta has not made it clear whether the Reels-first experience will ultimately become the norm for the entire world or if it’s a test that will be limited to specific markets, such as India.