Instagram is currently testing a significant change to your profile page, which could impact how you've curated your content. The social media platform is experimenting with transforming the traditional square grid into vertical rectangles, potentially altering the overall aesthetic of your profile.
The shift towards vertical content
Instagram has been hinting at this change for some time. Adam Mosseri, the head of Instagram, mentioned in a recent Instagram story that the company has been toying with this idea since at least 2022. The primary reason for this shift is the growing trend of vertical content on the platform. Whether photos are in a 4:3 aspect ratio or videos are in a 9:16 format, most of what you upload to Instagram these days is vertical.
Mosseri acknowledged that forcing this content into a square format can be harsh. “Cropping it down to a square is pretty brutal,” he said. This change could make Instagram more accommodating to the most popular content styles today, but it may disrupt the carefully planned layouts that many users have spent considerable time curating.
Addressing user concerns
Mosseri is well aware that this change might only sit well with some. He mentioned that squares are a relic from when Instagram only allowed square photos, a limitation lifted back in 2015. For those who have meticulously organised their profiles to ensure a consistent and appealing look, the prospect of their well-arranged squares turning into rectangles might be unsettling. However, Mosseri seems committed to updating the platform to better reflect modern content trends. “I would really like to do better with the content today,” he stated.
Instagram spokesperson Christine Pai confirmed the test in a statement to The Verge. “We're testing a vertical profile grid with a small number of people,” she said. “This is a limited test, and we'll be listening to feedback from the community before rolling anything out further.” It's clear that Instagram is proceeding cautiously, and the final decision will likely be influenced by how users respond to this experiment.
Preparing for the potential change
While this is still in the testing phase, it's a good idea to start considering how a vertical grid might affect your profile's layout. You might need to rethink your approach if you've designed your profile around the classic square grid. Instagram's move towards vertical content reflects how users are engaging with the platform, and it could be a sign of more changes to come.
Mosseri's story hints at a more extensive conversation within Instagram about adapting the platform to current user behaviours while balancing the needs of long-time users who value the original square format. Whether this test will lead to a permanent change remains to be seen, but it's clear that Instagram is keen to evolve alongside the content its users create.
