Ok! 

Instagram got a lil facelift a couple weeks ago! If you didn’t notice the new feed options, go mess around with it! Tap the Instagram button in the upper left corner and you’ll be able to choose from a home, following and favorites feed. 

I’m still getting used to the new interface (and honestly just using the home feed anyway), but I did have a couple thoughts: 

The home page is annoying unless you turn off suggested posts

So the most interesting part of the new Instagram layout might be the home page. The first day it updated, I thought it was exactly the same, but as I scrolled the page, almost every other post was someone I wasn’t following. 

I did not appreciate it. I chose who I follow carefully, and I don’t want anything extra. 

I turned off suggested posts (can be done by clicking the suggested posts upper right corner), and now use it like the same ole’ home page. 

I can see some benefits for people keeping it on: 

• New, relevant content (tbh the suggestions were pretty dang good) 
• Influencers will likely reach a wider audience 
• Exploring new content mixed with your chosen content is certainly better than the old explore pages 

The favorites page shows you what you really want

I was kinda excited for the favorites page, but I didn’t realize how good the Instagram algorithm was.

By the time I’ve swiped through the home page, the algorithm has already put my favorites at the top of the home page.

I wonder if I was following more people if it would be more helpful. I know it has to help influencers if they are in more people’s favorites, but if you engage with the same people every day, it pushes it to the top anyway.

I do see the benefit of just going to my favorites and looking at that feed. I’m working on making my favorites a little more effective, and I think it can help me break the habit of endless scrolling because I’m more in control of the content I see. 

Chronological order is wayyy less addicting 

Finally, we have the chronological Instagram feed. This much requested demanded feature showcases posts in order of timestamp (with no suggested posts). You can look for the most timely content and not miss all the posts Instagram had been burying deep in the home page. 

I will say I now understand why they got rid of chronological order in the first place. I don’t know how they mix up the algorithm, but scrolling chronologically is way less addicting! Instagram certainly doesn’t benefit from it not being addicting so it makes sense why they got rid of it 

Overall, I *think* I like it 

I don’t use the other two scrolling choices often. I only follow around 600 people so I’m not sure if I don’t have enough people in the feed or what, but I just don’t have enough posts to go through in the following or favorites. 

It’s a good idea though, and I’m interested to see how people use it or like it!

Let me know your takes in the comments!