Instagram CEO Defends Shift to Video Content, Says Photo Support Will Continue

Instagram parent company Meta has been pushing the social media app further into video content in order to compete with TikTok, but many Instagram users have been unhappy with the continued focus on video.

Instagram Feature 1
Celebrities have spoken out against the change, and a petition to "Make Instagram Instagram Again" has garnered more than 1.7 million likes, leading Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri to share a video on Twitter explaining Instagram's plans.

Mosseri confirmed that "more and more of Instagram is going to become video over time," which he claims will happen "even if we change nothing." He said that what people share on Instagram is already shifting to videos over time, and Instagram will "have to lean into that shift while continuing to support photos."

Instagram is experimenting with a "number of different changes to the app," according to Mosseri. The full-screen version of the feed that some users are seeing is a test to a "few percentage of people." Mosseri says that Instagram is aiming to determine whether a full-screen experience for photos and videos might be "a more fun and engaging experience." If the feature ships to the rest of Instagram, it will be improved first.

Instagram users have also been unhappy with recommendations, which are posts that Instagram inserts into a feed based on other accounts followed. Mosseri says recommendations can be snoozed for up to a month, but Instagram is going to try to get better at recommendations because it is "one of the most effective and important ways to help creators reach more people."

Mosseri said Instagram will ultimately continue to support photos, but that the app "needs to evolve because the world is changing quickly" and Instagram has to "change along with it."

Top Rated Comments

JCCL Avatar
18 months ago
I hate reels more like anything. I don’t know how people can watch random dumb stuff one after another And another. Originally I installed Instagram because I wanted to see pics from friends & family and some public figures that interested me, but more and more it is pushing random reels I don't care about, and the content I originally wanted to see is getting harder and harder to find. This app is getting so close to being removed from my Phone.
Score: 60 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Mr. Dee Avatar
18 months ago
Yet they can't release a dedicated iPad app...a 1 trillion dollar company!
Score: 25 Votes (Like | Disagree)
RemedyRabbit Avatar
18 months ago
My feed contains less and less photos from the users I follow and more and more videos from accounts that I'm not remotely interested in ?‍♂️

Such a shame that every successful app becomes increasingly worse over time as they're squeezed dry of every last little drop of profit.
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)
parkds Avatar
18 months ago
Why can’t a photo sharing platform just be enough. I know they don’t want to be caught flat footed, but Instagram is always chasing the “hot” new kid on the block; Snapchat, Clubhouse, now TikTok. Instagram needs to be true to it’s identity, which it’s users expect, and innovate, don’t follow.
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TheYayAreaLiving ?️ Avatar
18 months ago
Instagram video content is a joke already. Half of the time it's filled with random commercial ads. This is pure greed.

Sorry, Instagram. You cannot compete with TikTok. Stop trying to be them. Stick to the original business plan.
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mariusignorello Avatar
18 months ago
Oh sure, photos will still be supported but they’ll be deprioritized and reach practically nobody.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iOS 17

iOS 17.2 Will Add These 12 New Features to Your iPhone

Friday December 1, 2023 12:19 pm PST by
iOS 17.2 has been in beta testing for over a month, and it should be released to all users in a few more weeks. The software update includes many new features and changes for iPhones, including the dozen that we have highlighted below. iOS 17.2 is expected to be released to the public in mid-December. To learn about even more features coming in the update, check out our full list. Journal ...
anker new xmas 1

Anker's Cyber Week Sale Enters Final Days With Up to 60% Off Sitewide

Friday December 1, 2023 12:05 pm PST by
Anker's Black Friday/Cyber Week event is entering its final days this weekend, and it's still offering up to 60 percent off sitewide. There are also a few "mystery boxes" that can include hundreds of dollars in savings, if you're willing to risk not knowing what you're buying ahead of time. All of these sales will end on December 3. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Anker. When you...
top stories 2dec2023

Top Stories: iOS 17.1.2 Released, NameDrop Misinformation, and More

Saturday December 2, 2023 6:00 am PST by
Apple employees are back to work following a Thanksgiving break, and that means this week saw a number of new operating system updates for both public release and beta testing. This week also saw some misinformation about Apple's new NameDrop feature making the rounds, while Apple and Goldman Sachs appear to be on the verge of a break-up in their Apple Card and savings account partnership,...
General Apps Messages

Green Bubbles on iPhone to Gain These 7 New Features Next Year

Thursday November 30, 2023 9:00 am PST by
Earlier this month, Apple announced that it will finally support RCS in the Messages app on the iPhone starting later next year. This change will result in several improvements to the messaging experience between iPhones and Android devices. RCS will become the new default standard for messaging between iPhones and Android devices, but these conversations will still have green bubbles like...
m2 macbook air green

Get Apple's M2 MacBook Air and M3 MacBook Pro for Record Low Prices

Friday December 1, 2023 6:59 am PST by
Best Buy is discounting a collection of MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models to all-time low prices today. We're tracking these deals below in addition to great discounts on the Apple Pencil 2 and Apple Watch Ultra 1. MacBook Air Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the...
iPhone 16 Mock Header Updated 1

iPhone 16 to Include Action Button Across Entire Lineup

Thursday November 30, 2023 4:08 pm PST by
The release of the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max saw the introduction of an entirely new user-configurable button known as the Action button, and now, MacRumors has seen extensive evidence confirming Apple is planning to include the Action button on the entire iPhone 16 range. Designs and plans for the Action button date back to at least 2021, as the button was intended for release alongside hapt...