Welcome to 2025, where Instagram remains a dominant force in social media with over 2.35 billion users worldwide. This platform continuously introduces new features that significantly impact how businesses and marketers connect with their audiences.
In this blog, we’ll discuss the most recent Instagram updates for 2025, discussed by Adam Mosseri, the head of Instagram, as well as highlight some important features from previous years that are still relevant today. Whether you are refining your marketing strategies or just staying informed about the latest trends, this article will provide you with all the necessary information to make the most of Instagram’s capabilities.
Let’s take a closer look at what’s new on Instagram and how these features can enhance your digital advertising efforts.
Detailed Look at New Features For Instagram Updates
1. Extended Duration of Instagram Reels
With Instagram extending the maximum duration of Reels to three minutes, content creators and marketers have a new playground. This longer format is a game-changer for those who previously felt constrained by shorter videos. Now, storytellers can delve deeper into their subjects, educators can create more thorough tutorials, and brands can conduct more comprehensive product demos without rushing through details. This change not only enhances the storytelling potential but also increases the opportunity for deeper audience engagement, keeping viewers on the platform longer and boosting the chances for higher engagement metrics.
2. Profile Grid Redesign
Instagram’s updated rectangular profile grid significantly alters how photos and videos are arranged and displayed on user profiles. This change aims to make the visual arrangement on profiles more appealing and organized, which can help brands present a more curated appearance. For businesses, this means a streamlined way to highlight key products or campaigns and a better user experience for visitors, who can now find relevant content more intuitively. The new dimension for the Instagram Feed is 1080 pixels by 1920 pixels. Even though most of the feed was previously on the square dimension, you can now enter and try to realign the photos, in order to change the appearance. This update may not be yet available for everyone, but soon enough it will happen, so make sure you are prepared for it.
3. Customizable Post Grid Arrangement
In a reel, Adam Mosseri talked about a highly anticipated update coming to Instagram. This is the ability to manually rearrange posts within the grid by simply dragging them to new positions. This functionality will give users unprecedented control over the aesthetic and flow of their profiles, allowing them to highlight specific posts in strategically chosen locations. For brands, this means the ability to quickly adapt their visual first impression to suit promotional priorities or to better narrate their brand story. By strategically placing key posts, such as new product launches or important announcements at the top of the grid, companies can enhance visibility and impact upon profile visits. This feature is a significant boon for marketers aiming to create a curated brand image that evolves with their campaigns, ensuring that their most engaging or current content always takes precedence.
4. Testing Content with Instagram Trial Reels
The introduction of Instagram Trial Reels provides marketers with a powerful tool to gauge the effectiveness of their content before committing to a broader campaign. This feature allows for A/B testing of video variations, enabling creators to fine-tune aspects such as hooks, calls-to-action, and visual elements based on real-time feedback and performance data. By leveraging Trial Reels, marketers can optimize their content strategy based on audience preferences, leading to higher engagement and more effective use of advertising budgets. This strategic testing ensures that only the most resonant content makes it to the wider audience, maximizing potential impact.
5. Revising the Dedicated Tab for Story Highlights
In a notable shift, Instagram is contemplating significant changes to how Story Highlights are displayed on user profiles. Adam Mosseri, in a recent Instagram Live, shared that the platform is exploring ways to integrate Story Highlights directly into the main profile grid. This move aims to streamline profiles and enhance the visibility of content by bringing more material “above the fold.”
For businesses, this potential update could transform how evergreen content and key promotions are presented. Instead of a separate tab, these important stories may soon be woven into the grid layout, ensuring they are part of the immediate visual narrative seen by visitors. While this change is still under consideration, it underscores Instagram’s commitment to simplifying user experience and making essential content more accessible.
6. Removal of Hashtag Following
Instagram’s decision to remove the option to follow hashtags marks a significant shift in how content is discovered and consumed on the platform. This change pushes marketers to think beyond hashtags as a means to expand reach and encourages more direct engagement strategies such as collaborations, influencer partnerships, and community-building initiatives. While this may initially seem like a setback, it challenges brands to create more compelling, shareable content that can thrive without reliance on hashtag visibility, thereby fostering a more authentic connection with their audience. This move underscores the importance of quality and relevance over mere exposure, aligning content discovery more closely with user preferences and behaviors.
Applying These Instagram Updates to Your Strategy
To make the most of Instagram’s latest features, start by embracing the extended Reels and redesigned profile grid to enhance your visual storytelling. Use the customizable post grid to strategically highlight key content, and incorporate Trial Reels to refine your approach based on audience feedback. Keep an eye on evolving features like the integration of Story Highlights into the main grid and adapt your content strategy to focus on creating engaging, quality posts that stand out without relying solely on hashtags.
Staying current with Instagram’s updates is more than just keeping up with new features—it’s about actively integrating these changes to enhance your brand’s online presence and engagement. As Instagram continues to evolve, so should your strategies for connecting with your audience. By adopting these new tools and approaches, you can ensure that your business not only keeps pace with the competition but stands out on this ever-popular platform.
Are you ready to elevate your Instagram presence with the latest updates and features? At Xari, we specialize in crafting social media strategies tailored to your brand’s unique needs. Book a consultation with us today, and let’s transform your Instagram approach to captivate and engage your audience like never before.
