Instagram is apparently exploring a new Tik-Tok inspired feature. The Meta-owned photo sharing app will introduce a full-screen vertical home feed, similar to TikTok. The aim is to enhance the UI and improve the video watching experience on the platform.
Instagram head Adam Mosseri confirmed the upcoming feature in a video shared on the micro-blogging site Twitter. As per the tweet, taller photos and videos would start appearing in some feeds.
In an image shared by Instagram, the home feed of the photo sharing app can be seen with a full-screen post along with the captions, likes, comments, and other features. While the ‘Stories’ bar isn’t visible at the top of the screen in the image, Seine Kim, a Meta representative, suggests the full-screen view shows up on the home feed once users start scrolling and the Stories will still be accessible from the top of the homepage.
The bottom of the screen still has buttons for search, reels, shopping, and a user’s individual profile. Messages, notifications, and new post features, as well as the ability to move between accounts, remain at the top.
Sharing the clip, Mosseri tweeted on the micro-blogging platform, “We are testing a new, immersive viewing experience in the main Home feed. If you are in the test, check it out and let me know what you think.”
According to media reports, users can still reach the discovery tab, Reels, commerce, and their own page using the bottom navigation bar. In related news, Instagram has also confirmed a new feature that in works that will allows users to pin specific posts to their profile atop their photo grid.
This new feature is also under beta testing and is currently available to a small number of users on the platform. Users with access to this feature will see a “Pin to your profile” option which they can select from the three-dot menu next to posts.
The ability to pin a specific post to a user’s profile could be a useful feature for users who wish to emphasize their favorite posts that are buried farther down in their photo grid.
