Instagram has begun testing a radical change to its users’ profile pages. The platform has been testing replacing its traditional square format with vertical rectangles for years. This new arrangement aims to better reflect vertical photos and videos on the profile grid. The grid structure, which has been in a square format for a long time, is known as a legacy feature of Instagram. However, since the majority of content shared on the platform is now in vertical format, this change makes sense.
The platform’s CEO, Adam Mosseri, stated in a statement that the majority of content uploaded to Instagram is in vertical format, and that adapting this content to a square format creates difficulties. Mosseri stated that the square format is a practice from Instagram’s early days and no longer meets today’s content needs. This statement shows that Instagram is looking to create a profile layout that suits user habits.
Instagram’s vertical grid test could change user habits
Instagram’s square format has been embraced by users since the platform’s early days, and over the years, users have become accustomed to organizing their profile grids into squares. This change could be a significant adjustment, especially for users who are meticulous about their profile organization. Replacing squares with vertical rectangles could radically change the visual aesthetic of profile pages, so users may need to rethink their profile design if this change becomes permanent.
Instagram is currently testing this change with a limited group of users and plans to roll it out to a wider audience after evaluating user feedback. It is currently stated that this test is only in a trial phase and there is no clear information on whether this test will turn into a permanent change. However, it can be said that such major changes are usually aimed at improving the user experience and that Instagram is giving clues about the future usage of the platform with this test.
On the other hand, there are signs that Instagram has been preparing for such a change for a long time. It is known that the platform has been testing a vertical grid structure since 2022. This shows that Instagram closely monitors users’ content production and sharing habits and develops innovations in this direction.
This potential change could be a major topic of discussion among social media users. Users who carefully plan their profile grid are questioning how the new arrangement will affect their own content strategies. While Instagram states that it always takes user feedback into account in such changes, it remains to be seen how such innovations will affect the platform. While users are considering how to adapt to these changes, they are also trying to get an idea of Instagram’s future direction.
Ultimately, Instagram’s move from squares to vertical rectangles is seen as a significant development in how content presentation will evolve on social media platforms, and whether or not this innovation becomes permanent on the platform will depend on the feedback Instagram receives from its community.