Instagram is testing a fresh new look for its app, starting with users in India and South Korea. This update puts a much bigger spotlight on Reels, the platform’s popular short video feature, by making it the first thing you see when you open the app. The redesign was first seen earlier this month when Instagram launched its first iPad app, and now it’s making its way to mobile users.
In the new layout, Stories still appear at the top of the screen as usual, but there are a few noticeable changes. The Direct Messages (DM) button, for example, is now placed front and center on the navigation bar at the bottom of the screen. The Reels tab has been bumped up to the second position, making it easier to access with just a swipe.
A new addition to this layout is the “Following” tab, now placed right next to Reels. Tapping on it gives users three different feed views: “All” (which shows recommended content and Reels from accounts you follow), “Friends” (content from people you follow who also follow you back), and “Latest” (showing the most recent posts and Reels).
While only a small group of users is currently testing the new design, Instagram says the plan is to roll it out globally in the future.
This change comes as part of Meta’s broader strategy, especially after announcing that Instagram now has over 3 billion monthly users. The company credits a huge part of that growth to Reels, which are being reshared an incredible 4.5 billion times across Meta’s platforms. Because of that, Instagram is giving Reels and DMs more prominence in its interface — aiming to make short-form video and messaging more central to the user experience.
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