Instagram Head Doubles Down on Video Amid Growing Backlash
The head of Instagram Adam Mosseri appeared to double down on the company’s commitment to video in the face of large-scale criticism of recent changes to the app.
Mosseri released a video on Tuesday where he acknowledged the backlash against Instagram with users annoyed at the app’s apparent lurch toward TikTok and even a petition being launched under the name of “Make Instagram Instagram Again.”
👋🏼 There’s a lot happening on Instagram right now.
I wanted to address a few things we’re working on to make Instagram a better experience.
Please let me know what you think 👇🏼 pic.twitter.com/x1If5qrCyS
— Adam Mosseri (@mosseri) July 26, 2022
The strong reaction from the Instagram community has been largely driven by a percentage of users who have received a TikTok-like full-screen feed.
“If you’re seeing a new full-screen version of the feed know that it is a test. It is at least to a few percent of the people out there and the idea is that a more full-screen experience, not only for video but for photos, might be a more fun engaging experience,” Mosseri explains in a video posted to his social media channels.
“But I also want to be clear, it’s not yet good and we’re going to have to get it to a good place if we’re going to ship it to the rest of Instagram.”
The Meta employee then addressed photos directly after photographers have been lamenting the recent changes, complaining loudly online.
“The second thing I’m hearing are a lot of concerns about photos and how we’re shifting to video. Now, I want to be clear we’re going to continue to support photos, it’s part of our heritage… That said, I need to be honest, I do believe that more and more of Instagram is going to become video over time.”
The statement will no doubt rankle with photographers and photo-lovers alike who “just want to see cute photos of their friends.” But Mosseri believes that the app is “shifting more and more to videos over time.”
“We are going to need to evolve because the world is changing quickly and we have to change along with it,” adds Mosseri.
Even the Kardashians are Mad
Kylie Jenner and her sister Kim Kardashian both shared the viral poster that reads: “Make Instagram Instagram again. Stop trying to be TikTok I just want to see cute photos of my friends. Sincerely, everyone.”
The last time Kylie Jenner complained about a social media site, Snapchat lost $1.3B, so yeah Instagram has a problem. pic.twitter.com/ugipc9abb6
— Frank Pallotta (@frankpallotta) July 25, 2022
Her public statement is a big deal since Jenner is the second most followed user on Instagram with 360 million followers.
