Is Instagram Turning Into TikTok? Updates and More
Updated: Aug 5, 2022
If you’re a social media marketer or small business owner, keeping track of social media platforms updates is a must. That is why we have compiled all the information you need to know about the latest and greatest Instagram updates. As well as how you can utilize these new updates to scale your business and grow your reach on Instagram.
Instagram has primarily been a photo app since it was launched, but short-form videos have been the new growth driver! Instagram is capitalizing on Reels, the short-form, vertical videos that can be up to 60 seconds long. Instagram’s growth and success has been largely driven by Reels and they now make up for 20% of the time users spend on the app.
Adam Mosseri, Head of Instagram, is testing a full-screen version of the feed that is very similar to TikTok. You know how when you log onto TikTok, the first thing you see (besides maybe an ad) is a full-screen, vertical video? Instagram is testing a feature that would offer a similar, instantly immersive experience, which it says is designed to bring video more front and center. Videos and messaging are the two top priorities for Instagram!
Although after many complaints, some even coming from the Kardashians, Instagram has decided to take a few steps back on the full screen. Here are the updates you need to know about to scale your business!
Instagram Algorithm
The Instagram algorithm has been a mystery for a very long time, with continuous changes. TikTok’s powerful recommendation algorithm is one of the reasons behind its immense popularity, which is why it makes sense for Meta to focus on enhancing its own recommendation systems to get people to interact with Reels more, and in turn, be better aligned to compete with TikTok.
Currently, the most important factors that affect what users see in their Instagram feeds are:
Post’s popularity indicators – how many people clicked like, where it was located, what its duration was (if it was a video)
How frequently the user interacted with the account in the past
How many posts the user has liked
User’s engagement with the accounts’ other content