Instagram is rolling out an experimental redesign that fundamentally changes how users navigate the app, giving prime real estate to Reels and direct messages while deprioritizing traditional photo sharing. The optional test represents Meta’s most explicit acknowledgment yet that Instagram has evolved far beyond its origins as a photo-sharing platform.

New Navigation Reflects Changing User Behavior

Instagram head Adam Mosseri announced that select users will now see an option to try a completely reorganized tab bar at the bottom of the app[1]. The new layout replaces the current five-tab arrangement with a structure that places Reels in the second position and creates a dedicated tab for direct messages in the third spot. The first tab remains unchanged, still showing Stories and the main feed[3].

The redesign removes the dedicated “plus” button for creating new posts, replacing it with the messaging tab. Users will still be able to create content, but through different access points within the app. Additionally, the new design introduces the ability to swipe between tabs, making navigation more fluid[1].

Meta Chases Growth Through Messaging and Short-Form Video

This layout change isn’t arbitrary—it directly reflects where Instagram’s growth has come from in recent years. Mosseri explicitly stated that “Reels and DMs have driven most all our growth at Instagram over the last few years,” explaining why the company is exploring making them the first two tabs users see[1].

The test aligns with Meta’s broader strategic priorities announced earlier this year, which emphasized messaging and short-form video content as key focus areas. The company even tested a similar redesign with Indian users in early October, where Reels defaulted as the primary tab and DMs occupied the second position[1].

Optional for Now, But Signals Long-Term Direction

Mosseri acknowledged in his announcement that significant interface changes “can take time to get used to,” which is why the new layout remains optional for users who encounter it during this testing phase[1]. However, the direction of travel seems clear. From the recently launched iPad version of Instagram defaulting to a Reels-first experience to these navigation experiments, Meta is systematically reorganizing the app around consumption and private sharing rather than public photo posting.

The Evolution of Social Media Behavior

The shift reflects broader changes in how people use social media platforms. As content creation has become increasingly professionalized, with influencers, brands, and creators dominating public feeds, everyday users have gravitated toward consuming content from people they don’t know and discussing it privately with friends[1]. Instagram’s new layout simply acknowledges this behavioral shift more explicitly.

For users who joined Instagram during its early years as a photo-sharing app, the gradual drift away from photography may feel uncomfortable. However, Meta’s decision represents a pragmatic response to larger social media trends and user engagement data showing where people actually spend their time within the app.

The test is currently rolling out to a limited number of users, with no announced timeline for a broader release or whether the changes will become permanent for all users.

Sources:

[1] Engadget - Instagram tests new layout that puts the spotlight on Reels and DMs: https://www.engadget.com/social-media/instagram-tests-new-layout-that-puts-the-spotlight-on-reels-and-dms-215407062.html

[2] Adam Mosseri on Threads: https://www.threads.com/@mosseri/post/DPpGG_IiLgm/video-starting-today-you-will-see-an-option-to-try-new-instagram-tabs-the-first-is-sti

Photo by LoboStudioHamburg on Pixabay