Instagram has announced that it now has 3 billion monthly active users, marking a significant milestone for the platform. The company attributes much of its recent growth to increased engagement with short-form video and messaging features. According to Instagram, messaging is currently the most popular way for users to share photos and videos on the app, and Reels are reshared over 4.5 billion times daily across Meta platforms.
The company is testing a new "Reels-first" experience in India for a limited group of users. With this update, users will land directly in Reels upon opening the app, while Stories remain accessible at the top of the screen. Direct messages (DMs) can be reached with a single swipe from anywhere within the app.
A new “Following” tab is also being introduced as part of this test. This tab provides several ways to view content from followed accounts: an “All” section for recommended posts and Reels from all followed accounts; a “Friends” section featuring content from mutual followers; and a “Latest” section displaying chronological posts and Reels.
“We’re excited to test this experience in India because of the vast and culturally diverse Reels content created here, much of which our global community truly enjoys and connects over,” said Instagram.
Instagram also plans to simplify navigation globally by moving DMs to the center of the navigation bar for easier access, while placing Reels as the second tab. Users will be able to swipe between all tabs, allowing smoother transitions between different sections of the app.
“Instagram has always been about creativity and connection. We hope these tests and updates make it even easier for you to share, discover, and connect,” Instagram stated.