There’s a clear reason why, even in 2023, Instagram is still a major role in the social media world. In December of 2021, Instagram announced that it has 2 billion monthly active users around the globe. Instagram is constantly evolving, which means that new features are being added on a regular basis.
If you missed any of 2022 or 2023’s new Instagram features and improvements, this article has you covered.
As a social media marketer, you should always be aware of the latest changes to the various platforms you use. In order to help you make the most of the recent Instagram updates, we’ve compiled the information you need into this handy blog article.
We’ll start with the most recent Instagram changes and go backward to review the ones from a while ago that are still worth noting. Without further ado, let’s take a look at all the cool stuff Instagram has added recently.
An Instagram feed devoid of sponsored content and recommended content
You must have become weary of seeing suggested posts from accounts you don’t follow and sponsored content that doesn’t interest you on your Instagram feed, right? I certainly was in that category.
Your Instagram feed will now only contain content posted by people you choose to follow, with no sponsored or recommended content to distract you.
To begin following someone on Instagram, simply click on their profile in the top left corner, then select Following.
This new function, unfortunately, is not available in Instagram Stories but only in the main feed.
Instagram has changed its video posting format so that only Reels may be shared
Until further notice, all new video uploads on Instagram must be Reels rather than the previous format of “normal” video posts.
If you capture a video in landscape mode, you can’t even upload it as a square (or any other clip as a matter of fact).
However if you insist on uploading square movies, consider this workaround:
- Get going on your carousel post by including an image.
- Choose a video to play on repeat in your carousel.
- To isolate the video, deselect your photo.
- And with that, we’re done! A square crop has been applied to your video.
Pin It On A Grid On Instagram
With the newest Instagram update, you can now “pin” your posts to the top of your feed.
To put it another way, your previously published works can still be effective. Instagram really needed this function, which has been there for a while on other social media apps like Twitter and TikTok.
Instagram’s 60-second Stories
Slowly but surely, Instagram is adding another another helpful function. Users may now post Instagram Stories up to 60 seconds in length, instead of the usual 15 seconds.
You can now incorporate all the user mentions, tags, locations, links, etc. in one larger Narrative rather than having to restart the procedure after every 15 seconds, which is a huge time saver.
The Instagram Algorithm of 2023 Exposed
About a long time, the inner workings of the Instagram algorithm were a complete mystery, and proficiency required a lot of educated guesswork and trial-and-error.
At the moment, it appears that the following are the most influential on what Instagram users see in their feeds:
Indicators of the Post’s Appeal – details such as how many people liked it, where it was, and how long it lasted (if it was a video)
Average historical account activity frequency
A count of how many times a person has liked a post
User interaction with the other content posted by the accounts We highly recommend viewing the entire movie, as doing so may significantly improve your comprehension of the social platform and the outcomes of your communications.
Revised Instagram reels in 2023
When Instagram first launched reels in 2020, their popularity has skyrocketed. Instagram is clearly committed to this new format and is always striving to improve it, as seen by the platform’s decision in July 2021 to quadruple the maximum time of the Reels. Updates to the new Instagram feature include new editing tools, such as the double exposure function and the timer, which have only recently been made available.
Let’s dive into the capabilities of Reels. Reels are vertical postings that can take up the entire screen for anything between 15 seconds and 1 minute. You may use this feature to merge many clips into one longer movie as well. There are several add-ons that can be added to Reels to make the material even more interesting to the user:
Optional background music may be added, and the volume can be changed to match that of the video.
Using the voiceover feature, you may add your own comments.
Doodling on top of video with text doodles.
When you’ve finished filming a new Reel, you may personalise it with a sticker.
Used in the same way as Story Timer, effects allow you to capture videos without keeping your phone steady.
For the next iteration of Instagram Reels, the company is experimenting with the following:
Using Video Layout, users may record several movies in succession in different windows and then play them all at once.
Dual-recording functionality (photo + video) for enhanced storytelling.
Posts of Collaborations on Instagram
Also, the ability to make collaborative postings is a welcome addition. Your collaborator’s profile will also be updated with the post.
Make your usual post (Reels are supported also), click on Tag others, and then on Invite collaborator to work together on it.
Rapid-Fire Images of Response
Another version of Instagram’s Reel, dubbed “Reels Visual Responses,” was released that year. You may use this function to video-reply to the feedback you receive on your Reels posts from all of your followers.
This is a fantastic new approach for content makers to interact with their audiences by responding to feedback they receive in the comments.
