Instagram is making some changes, with a fresh profile grid design that might replace the photo setup soon. The liked social media platform is currently experimenting with a layout that showcases images in rectangles moving away from the square format that has defined Instagram since its early days.
Adam Mosseri, the Head of Instagram gave a preview of the updated grid in a Story. He mentioned that the square layout was a thing of the past when only square photos were supported on the app. However as most content shared on Instagram these days is vertical adjusting images to fit into a square can be quite challenging. Although Instagram added support for portrait and landscape orientations back, in 2015 the profile grid has remained unchanged until now.
A Nod to Modern Content
Mosseri acknowledged the efforts of some users who carefully curate their grids with specific messages and color schemes. “I would really like to do better by the content today,” he stated, expressing hope that a smooth transition can be achieved. The square layout is undergoing testing with a set of users so it won’t be released to everyone yet. However a preview of features can be found in the video section of profiles, where clip previews are already displayed as rectangular shapes.
Rumors, about a grid layout have circulated before. Back in 2022 Alessandro Paluzzi, a developer shared that Instagram was considering adding an option for users to pick between a 4;5 aspect ratio and the classic square format for their profile grid. Fast forward two years. It appears that this update could soon become a reality marking a shift, for the photo centric social media platform as it adjusts to changing content trends.
