Instagram Updates: Bigger, Better, and More Control for Creators

Instagram is rolling out some exciting features that will give users—especially creators—more flexibility and control over their content.

• Taller Grid Photos: Instagram has launched a new feature that allows users to post taller photos to their grid. This gives your feed a refreshed look, perfect for showcasing your latest aesthetic shots without cutting out any details.

• Highlights Tab in Grid: Coming soon—Instagram is experimenting with integrating your Highlights directly into the grid, adding them as a separate tab. This update will allow your followers to view key moments from your profile more easily.
• Reorder Your Grid: In another move to support creators, Instagram is developing a tool that will allow you to reorder your grid however you like. Finally, you’ll have the ability to fully customize your profile layout without being locked into a preset order.
• Reels Length Gets a Boost: Instagram is expanding the length of Reels from 90 seconds to 3 minutes! And here’s the kicker—longer Reels will be treated the same way as shorter ones in the algorithm. So, don’t worry if you want to dive deeper into your content. It will still get the reach it deserves.

• Mobile Video Editing App Preview: Instagram has also teased its new mobile video editing app, “Edits,” which is set to help creators make even better content on the go. With this new app, video editing will be quicker and more accessible than ever.

• New Insights and DM Features: Starting this February, Instagram is enhancing user experience with new insights and actionable tips for better engagement. Additionally, several exciting updates to direct messaging are rolling out, including message translations for global reach, a music sticker to personalize interactions, the ability to schedule messages for future delivery, and QR codes to quickly start group chats.
• Dedicated Reels App Consideration: With the increasing popularity of Reels, Instagram is considering launching a dedicated app to provide a tailored and immersive environment for video content creation and sharing. This move aims to streamline the Reels experience and boost user engagement.

Instagram’s Ranking System in 2025

Here’s the lowdown on Instagram’s ranking system, straight from the CEO. It’s all about reach, and it comes in two forms:

• Connected Reach: This is the reach you get from people who already follow you. So, when you post content, it will be shown to your existing followers based on their engagement habits and preferences.
• Unconnected Reach: This is the reach you get from accounts that don’t follow you yet. This is where Instagram will push content out into the discovery feed, giving your posts the chance to go viral even if you’re not a household name.

Essentially, Instagram’s goal is to keep things fresh by making sure your content is seen by both followers and non-followers alike.

TikTok Business Drama: Is a U.S. Sale on the Horizon?

In big news for TikTok, rumors are swirling that several major U.S. buyers—Microsoft and Oracle, to name a few—have shown strong interest in acquiring the app. A decision on this could come within the next 30 days. Whether this will impact the app’s operation in the U.S. or not remains to be seen, but keep an eye on this space!

More To Come

With these updates, Instagram and TikTok are clearly trying to give more power to creators and push the boundaries of what social platforms can do. Whether it’s through new features, extended video lengths, or potential business moves, the game is only getting more interesting.

Stay tuned—more updates are sure to follow!