Did you notice the recent changes to the Instagram Feed? Although subtle, they're loudly warning where social platforms are heading. A world of social-first content creation and consumption that keeps people on the platform.
If you want to geek out with me on what these changes mean and why they matter here are 4 points:
📱 FULL SCREEN: Social media consumption happens largely on mobile, with the years platforms have expanded the aspect ratios. TikTok went full screen and now Instagram has followed. This was true on IG Reels, but now it's true to the feed as well.
💡 WHY THIS MATTERS: Content creation will have to be made for mobile or your content will appear so small compared to your competitors, brand awareness and relevance will suffer.
🔉 SOUND & ENGAGEMENT BUTTONS FRONT AND CENTER: TikTok started it, that sound button you can so easily click, discover new artists, but more importantly... remix and create your own content. This same functionality is there on your feed now.
💡 WHY THIS MATTERS: Having this sound button readily available is pushing not only toward native consumption but also native creation! This is the button that gave the great Khaby the ability to remix content and curate a 137M following. The platforms want us to create and consume social-first content on their platform. This means traditional ways of content creation will be pushed out.
💰 PAID ADS: Paid ads on TikTok and now Instagram as well are blending seamlessly into the rest of the organic content. I don't know about you but sometimes, especially on TikTok, it takes me a few seconds to realize it's an ad.
💡 WHY THIS MATTERS: If you're ads ain't blending into the native platform you are spending money on... you're at a loss. This will require innovation. This will require entire teams stepping out of their comfort zone to adapt to this new world.
🥊 THE HOOK: Straight to the point. This new way of consuming content is forcing content creators to get straight to the point. You have to immediately deliver: education, inspiration, entertainment or value, if not you lost your audience.
💡 WHY THIS MATTERS: Whether you’re teaching grammar or programming the winners in these platforms are those who are able to educate and entertain in snackable sized content.
✨ CONCLUSION: This is a blatant example of where Social Media Platforms are heading: video, social-first video content that keeps you watching, engaging and creating in the platform.
TikTok came to disrupt the way content is created and consumed, all the other platforms are catching on and implementing these changes. These subtle changes are hugely important, we need to notice them and prepare for them because the algorithms are changing whether we want to or to not.
PLEASE SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH ME AND LET'S CONTINUE TO GEEK OUT ON THE FUTURE OF SOCIALS.
Top comments (8)
Great summary, thanks for sharing!
All the social media platforms copy each other 😂
yup! it's a copy + paste based on trends 😅
The convergence of Instagram and TikTok features is transforming the way we engage with content. The shift towards short-form videos on Instagram introduces a dynamic twist to the platform. While it diversifies content creation, it also raises questions about the distinct identity of each platform. Users now navigate through an amalgamation of Instagram reels and TikTok-style content, blurring the lines between the two. This evolution sparks conversations about the future of social media trends and how platforms adapt to meet user expectations. As the integration unfolds, it's fascinating to observe the impact on content creators, audience interaction, and the overall digital landscape. What are your thoughts on this evolving social media landscape?
Hey there! Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the recent changes to Instagram's feed. I've noticed the shift towards mobile-first and social-first content creation and consumption, which is something to keep an eye on. It's interesting to see how Instagram is adopting features from TikTok, which was predictable as Tik Tok becomes more popular. I also like Tik Tok more and follow these 10 educational tiktok accounts to learn something new daily. What about you?
The move to full-screen content is a big one. Creating content that works well on mobile is key to making sure your posts don't get lost among your competitors. And let's talk about that sound button too! TikTok started it, and now Instagram has followed suit. It's all about native consumption and creation, and it's exciting to see how creators can remix and curate their own content. So, overall, these changes are definitely shaping the future of social media platforms. By the way, did you know you could buy instagram views for videos? It could be a great way to boost your visibility and engagement.
That makes sense.
This endency annoys me