Instagram is currently testing a significant alteration to its app by potentially making Reels the primary home tab. This experiment is being conducted as an opt-in trial in India, where Meta has placed Reels and Direct Messages (DMs) as the first two tabs in the app. According to Adam Mosseri, head of Instagram, both Reels and DMs have been central to the platform’s growth in recent years, prompting the exploration of this change.
In a video related to the trial, viewers can see how the new home tab would function. This updated interface would retain familiar elements, such as a horizontal list of Stories at the top. However, as users scroll up, the layout transitions to resemble the current Reels tab, predominantly featuring video content. Mosseri stated that while photos from followed accounts will still be included in this updated home tab, the video presentation does not clarify how this will be implemented.
The concept of prioritizing Reels is not entirely new for Instagram. The recently launched iPad app already opens directly into Reels from its home tab, with Meta indicating that this design was intentional to cater to the current usage patterns on larger screens, emphasizing video-based entertainment. This new test suggests that Instagram may be considering elevating Reels’ visibility within its main mobile application, reflecting ongoing shifts in user preferences and engagement strategies.
What implications might these changes have for user experience and content engagement on the platform?
Source: https://www.theverge.com/news/790255/instagram-test-reels-home-tab