Instagram Begins Testing Its Biggest Redesign Yet – Reels to Take Center Stage

Meta-owned social media giant Instagram is once again making waves with what could become its biggest update so far. After recently crossing the milestone of 3 billion monthly active users worldwide, the company is now experimenting with a major design overhaul that could completely transform the way users experience the app.

According to Instagram head Adam Mosseri, the company has started testing this redesign in India, one of its largest markets. The update places Reels at the forefront of the app, signaling Meta’s increasing focus on short-form video content.

Reels May Become the Default Experience

Currently, when users open Instagram, the default feed shows a mix of posts, stories, and suggested content. However, under the new test, Reels will open as the default tab whenever a user launches the app.

Stories will still remain visible at the top of the screen, but scrolling down will no longer reveal traditional photo and video posts. Instead, users will see a full-screen Reels feed, creating an immersive, TikTok-like experience.

This change is being introduced as an opt-in experiment in India, meaning users can choose to try out the new layout. If successful, the update could eventually roll out globally.

Simplified Navigation and New Features

Alongside the redesign, Instagram is also making navigation easier. Test users now have direct access to DMs from the bottom navigation bar, allowing for faster communication.

Another new addition is a “Following” tab, which will give users a dedicated space to view the latest updates exclusively from accounts they follow. This move aims to balance Instagram’s algorithm-driven recommendations with content from close connections.

Meta also announced that in future updates, users will be able to swipe between tabs such as Reels, DMs, and other sections seamlessly. This feature is expected to make browsing smoother and more intuitive.

Why the Focus on Reels?

Instagram’s latest experiments reflect Meta’s broader strategy of making Reels its centerpiece. Short-form video has become the most engaging content type on the platform, and its popularity is a major reason behind Instagram’s rapid growth in recent years.

This is not the first time Meta has tested such a design. When Instagram’s dedicated iPad app launched earlier, Reels was also set as the default section. The current experiment in India seems to follow the same logic—keeping users hooked to bite-sized, engaging videos.

Recent Fixes and Upcoming Tools

The company has been making several improvements to enhance user experience:

• Last month, Instagram fixed a reach-related bug that limited visibility for accounts posting multiple Stories in a single day.

• It is also experimenting with a Picture-in-Picture (PiP) mode for Reels, allowing users to watch videos in a floating window while browsing other sections of the app.

• These small but significant tweaks, combined with the bigger redesign, show Instagram’s commitment to becoming a more dynamic and video-first platform.

The Bigger Picture

Meta’s decision to prioritize Reels highlights the changing nature of social media consumption. With TikTok’s global dominance and YouTube Shorts gaining traction, Instagram is betting heavily on short-form video to secure its place as a top social media destination.

However, the shift may also raise concerns among traditional Instagram users who still prefer photo posts and a mixed feed experience. While the “Following” tab might address some of these worries, the overall update suggests that the future of Instagram will be more video-driven than ever before.

Final Word

Instagram’s ongoing experiment in India could mark the beginning of its most dramatic transformation yet. If adopted widely, users around the world may soon find themselves opening an app where Reels, not posts, define the core experience.

Whether this change excites or frustrates users remains to be seen—but one thing is clear: Instagram is reshaping itself for the next phase of social media engagement.