Instagram shifts to vertical layout - What it means for your profile

If you opened Instagram today and felt a wave of nostalgia for your perfectly curated square grid, you’re not alone. The latest update is making waves, as Instagram has decided to pivot towards a vertical layout, leaving many users feeling somewhat disoriented. For those who have meticulously crafted their profiles to reflect a specific aesthetic, this seismic shift is more than just a design change; it’s a personal upheaval. As this transformation unfolds, a significant conversation is brewing around the implications for our favourite social platform.

This shift, while jarring for some, wasn't entirely unexpected. Since 2022, Instagram has been experimenting with this new direction. In a candid Instagram story, chief Adam Mosseri addressed the concerns head-on: “I know some of you really like your squares. And square photos are sort of the heritage of Instagram. But at this point, most of what’s uploaded, both photos and videos, are vertical in their orientation. And it just is a bummer to overly crop them. I know it's a change. I know it's a bit of a pain, but I think it's a transitional pain.”

He later elaborated, acknowledging the feedback he received: “We launched a new tall grid on profile this week and I got a lot of feedback, both positive and quite negative. One of the mistakes I made was not giving people enough of a heads up... The goal is a simpler, cleaner place that maintains, and even increases, creator control.”

Instagram’s new tall grid is designed for the current trend toward vertical media, which they believe presents photos and videos more effectively. However, it certainly disrupts the hard-earned aesthetic that many users took great pride in. To soften the blow, Instagram plans to enhance customization features, allowing users to reorder their grids and even post directly to them. Mosseri assured, “We’re also looking to move highlights into the grid and add them as a tab.”

As the rollout continues, it’s clear that Instagram is striving to strike a balance between innovation and user satisfaction.

The social media response has been a rollercoaster of emotions. Many users shared their frustrations at losing the classic square layout. One creative, Mathew George, lamented, “RIP to my grid! I spent hours curating that look! What’s next, TikTok-style videos on the feed?!"

Others echoed similar sentiments. A user with the username @yoursocialteam expressed their appreciation for the cleaner layout but raised a valid concern: “I love the new grid layout! Much cleaner and more inviting. However, I wish the layout was 4:5, like the maximum size we can post. Being 3:4 and unable to post in this ratio makes it harder to create carousels since part of it will always get cropped.”

User @venom lash artistry added, “At the very least, please allow us to choose between Portrait and Square formats. It's really unfair to those who have put in so much effort to curate a square grid profile.”

Amidst the concerns, some users are welcoming the change. One positive response noted, “I appreciate the focus on vertical content; maybe this will make my videos stand out more!”

As Instagram navigates this transition, the conversation around profile aesthetics continues to evolve. This update has already begun to impact users across the platform, and while it may be challenging, it also opens doors for creativity in a new format.