If you use Instagram, you might have noticed that the app’s look is changing. Instead of a stream of photos from followed accounts, Instagram users now more often find videos, along with content recommended by Instagram itself. It’s a clear response to the success of another social media platform, TikTok, and some Instagram influencers aren’t happy about it.
Instagram and its parent company, Meta, are facing a backlash from influencers, including Kim Kardashian and Kylie Jenner, who have a combined 686 million followers. The backlash got so bad that the head of Instagram took to Twitter on Tuesday to explain. Tech expert Omar Gallaga told Texas Standard that Instagram is likely to continue pivoting toward video and away from prioritizing content from friends and those you follow.
Highlights from this segment include:
– Instagram and Facebook’s prioritization of video content comes in response to increased popularity of TikTok, a platform where users scroll through short videos.
– Those who oppose the Instagram changes believe different platforms serve different purposes. They want Instagram to remain a place for photos and where content from those you follow is prioritized.
– In the past, influencer backlash has hurt the stock prices of tech platforms like SnapChat. But it’s unlikely that Instagram parent Meta will change its plans to move toward more video.
