Instagram Pulse Check : What’s New and What’s Coming Q2-Q3 2022

The only constant in social media is change. Here’s your pulse check on the latest Instagram changes in Q2 and the beginning of Q3.

New Immersive Feed

Head of Instagram Adam Mosseri announced at the beginning of May that Instagram is testing out a more “immersive feed.” They updated their algorithm again, and now static, square images are second to full screen Reels, vertical images and videos.

📣 Testing Feed Changes 📣

We’re testing a new, immersive viewing experience in the main Home feed.

If you’re in the test, check it out and let me know what you think. 👇🏼 pic.twitter.com/dmM5RzpicQ

— Adam Mosseri (@mosseri) May 3, 2022

Adaptive Strategies

In order to keep your static images from getting lost in the feed, start designing static images to be 9:16 or 1080 x 1350 pixels.

• Use the Instagram “Collab” feature to get your posts in front of new audiences. Co-host an Instagram.
• Live with a brand that has a similar target audience, or create content that integrates both brands.
• Prioritize Reels in your content strategy. Start by integrating Reel format in your content strategy and test its performance. Most likely you will see a much higher engagement rate and further reach.

New Features for Reels

Instagram launched Reels in 2020 allowing users to create 15-second videos. Today they have extended that video length to 90 seconds. The goal is to allow creators more time to tell their story.

Now, Reels will also be even more engaging with the addition of interactive stickers! Creators can now add quiz stickers, poll stickers and emoji sliders just like Stories in Reels. Finally, creators can now upload their own custom audio.

Amber Alerts

Believe it or not, if you are in the vicinity of a missing child, you might see an Amber Alert on Instagram! This notice will show important details about the missing child based on the information provided such as a photo or description.

Parental Controls

Instagram is cognizant of the negative effects their platform has on teenagers and has been working to create tools for parents to better manage the way their kids are using the platform.

They have recently announced a suite of tools to keep teens safe on Instagram. Parental controls have been available in the U.S. for the last few months. Supervision on Instagram allows parents and guardians to utilize a set of tools and insights to support teens (age 13-17).

With Parental Controls, parents can:

• Set a time limit for Instagram use every day
• Set scheduled breaks during certain times or days of the week
• See analytics on how much time their teen is spending on Instagram
• See who is following their teen and who their teen follows
• Set notifications and access more information when teens report something on Instagram
• Talk with their teen about the nudge feature, which “nudges” teens to change to a different topic if it seems like they are obsessing over one topic

Supporting Creators

Instagram’s goal is to become the number one platform for Creators to make a living, and they are working very hard to make that dream a reality. In January, Instagram announced a subscription model for creators to be able to make more sustainable income. This feature is just as it sounds people pay to get exclusive posts, chats, and content from the creators they love.

The Instagram Creator Marketplace is a new space in the app for brands and creators to find each other to create branded content. Now content creators and brands can manually request partnerships through the app and visa versa.

That’s a Wrap…for now!

That’s a wrap for the most recent updates for Q2 and the beginning of Q3! Instagram is always rolling out exciting new features to support creatives. Subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date on all the latest in social media marketing!

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