Instagram has begun testing a redesigned interface in India and South Korea, positioning the Reels page as the first screen users see upon opening the app.
The refreshed layout mirrors the design introduced with Instagram’s recent iPad app, featuring Stories at the top as before, but with a few key navigation changes. The Direct Messages (DM) button is now placed in the center of the navigation bar, while the Reels tab moves to the second position. Users can easily swipe between tabs for smoother navigation.
Another major addition is the Following tab, now located next to Reels. This tab allows users to toggle between three viewing modes:
- All – showcasing recommended posts and Reels from followed accounts.
- Friends – displaying content shared by mutual connections.
- Latest – prioritizing the most recent posts and Reels.
Instagram noted that this new interface is currently being tested with a limited group of users, but the company plans a global rollout after evaluating feedback from early adopters.
The redesign comes shortly after Instagram announced that it had surpassed 3 billion monthly active users. Parent company Meta attributed much of this growth to the platform’s short-form video content, with Reels being reshared 4.5 billion times across Meta’s family of apps.
By placing Reels and DMs at the center of its user experience, Instagram is signaling its intent to strengthen engagement and keep pace with the global popularity of short-form video platforms.
Source: Techcrunch
