Rediscovering the Beauty of Sharing Snaps on Instagram

In a series of major changes, social media megalith Meta is revolutionizing its platforms, with a gradual rollout set to continue until the end of 2023. Among the transformations, one development has garnered significant attention and sparked excitement among social media gurus – the upcoming revolution of Instagram.

Over the past decade, Instagram has undergone a remarkable journey. Initially under the ownership of Facebook, which later became Meta, the platform witnessed the ebb and flow of various features. It evolved from a simple photo-sharing hub into a TikTok-like space dominated by reels.

Now, Instagram is poised to make a groundbreaking move – a nostalgic return to its roots. The big IG is embracing retro vibes, prioritizing static images once again, and encouraging users to share snaps instead of videos.

Why this shift? It's part of a wider upheaval reshaping the social media landscape. Over the past three years, short-form content has surged in popularity, starting with TikTok and Snapchat before spreading to Meta's platforms. Even YouTube has joined the trend, albeit with some conditions. Mark Zuckerberg, a staunch believer in each platform having its distinct identity, is heavily investing in a new social network while making adjustments to the existing ones. Facebook, in its own characteristic fashion, will continue to serve as a hybrid platform. Contrary to popular belief, Facebook is far from a dying platform – it remains the top network, adding nearly a billion new users annually. Advertisers flock to Facebook due to its user base, which primarily consists of individuals in their 40s with considerable disposable income. However, Instagram has faced more challenges in generating advertising revenue. Its advertising algorithm has struggled to strike the right balance, often bombarding users with ads or suggested posts in their live feeds. While Instagram users aren't deactivating their accounts, they are temporarily disengaging from the platform as advertiser interest wanes. Rewind a decade, and Instagram was ad-free, or at least it appeared so to users. Nonetheless, money was flowing rapidly behind the scenes.

In the weeks to come, users will notice a reduction in the prominence of advertisements. They may encounter long-lost followers they haven't seen for years. Simultaneously, Meta will crack down on accounts resorting to unconventional methods to gain followers, as these numbers hold little significance compared to engagement. This very principle brought Instagram to my attention ten years ago when I became the Business Development Manager for Instagram UK. Not only did I have a substantial following, but my engagement score stood at an impressive 7.8, well above the average user's 2.8.

Intriguingly, the platform may also welcome the arrival of captivating Polaroid cameras, enhancing the retro ambiance while fostering instant gratification. Exciting times lie ahead on Instagram, and for those who set the platform aside, it's time to make a comeback. The essence that initially captivated you is set to resurge and become fashionable once again.

Until this moment, the most exciting social news of late was that YouTube was going to lower thresholds and make a focus of allowing short form content to earn revenue on the same scale as long form. But careful what you wish for, because there’s a sting in the tale for this story, short form content creators, who are moving from long form content creation are going to find that their back catalogues find themselves further down the algorithm in searches and revenue. Unfortunately you won’t be able to be champions of both universes, and short form content creation is much harder to generate ad revenue for, so before you make the plunge of adapting to the two formats, check the small print, they’ll only be one big winner in this transition and it’s not going to be you.