Tik Tok is bigger than Google these days, which means the video-focused social network app should pretty much be considered bigger than the internet itself. It should come as no surprise then that other apps and social networks look over at the Chinese behemoth with envious eyes and maybe with a view to copying a feature or two. This latest update coming to Instagram seems to indicate that Meta has done exactly that. If you’re a big Tik Tok or Instagram fan you are either going to love or hate this.
The head of Instagram, Adam Mosseri has taken to Twitter to put out a video describing a new test the social network is running on a new, “immersive viewing experience in the main Home feed.” In the video, Mosseri talks about the importance of video to the future of Instagram. This isn’t too much of a shock, considering that Reels, which is seen by many if not all as Instagram’s attempt at cloning the Tik Tok experience, already takes up 20% of the time users spend on Instagram.
Mosseri then goes on to describe the test, which includes displaying both photos and videos in a way that takes up much more of your screen. In a bid to be more immersive, the Instagram feed is going to start showing taller videos and taller photos. Yes, it all sounds very Tik Tok it has to be said.
Key changes shown on the full-screen image Instagram shared during the video include the likes, comments, and captions being at the top of the post instead of at the bottom. Interestingly, the Instagram Stories bar isn’t present on the screenshot, yet The Verge reports that Meta spokesperson, Seine Kime has said that screenshot is of the feed after the user has already started scrolling and that the Stories tab will in fact be there at the top of the feed.
The other key phrase that keeps coming up in the video is mobile-first. This pivot is seemingly a response to the move towards a world that will see more and more people accessing the internet using mobile devices before desktops. If you’d prefer a world where you get to straddle both mobile and desktop, you should check out our guide to using Phone Link to connect your phone to Windows 11.
