Instagram is piloting a redesigned interface in India and South Korea, where the Reels page is now featured as the main screen.
Earlier this month, the company introduced a comparable layout with the debut of its first iPad application. In this updated version, Stories remain at the top as before, but the DM icon has been relocated to the center of the navigation bar, and the Reels tab now occupies the second position. Users can switch between these tabs by swiping.
Now, the Following tab sits beside Reels and offers three different feed choices: “All” for suggested posts and reels from people you follow; “Friends” for content from mutual followers; and “Latest” for the most recent posts and reels.
Instagram noted that although this new look is currently available to a select group, the intention is to eventually launch it worldwide.
Following last week’s announcement that Instagram surpassed 3 billion monthly active users, Meta revealed on Monday that short-form videos are a major driver of this growth, being shared 4.5 billion times across its platforms. This is why Reels and DMs now have a more prominent place in the app’s design.
