Instagram is testing a significant change to user profiles, potentially bidding farewell to the classic square photo grid that has been a hallmark of the platform. The shift was announced by Instagram head Adam Mosseri, who revealed that the platform is exploring a vertical grid layout for profiles instead of the traditional squares.
“We’re actually testing a vertical grid for those who haven’t seen it yet for your profile instead of squares. Now squares are from way back in the day when you could only upload square photos to Instagram,” Mosseri said in an Instagram story.
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According to Mosseri, the vast majority of photos and videos uploaded to Instagram are vertical. “It’s either four by three in a photo or nine by sixteen in a video.”
Mosseri acknowledged that this change might be unsettling for some users, especially those who have invested considerable time and effort into curating their profile grids. The square format has allowed users to create cohesive, visually appealing profiles where each image aligns perfectly with the next. However, with the increasing dominance of vertical content, Instagram’s move towards a vertical grid seems like a natural progression.
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The transition to a vertical grid could potentially offer several benefits. For one, it would allow users to showcase their content in its original format without the need for cropping, which often compromises the quality and composition of the image or video. This change would also reflect the broader trend of vertical content consumption, which has become the norm on mobile devices.
While the new vertical grid layout is still in the testing phase, it indicates Instagram’s commitment to adapting to the changing needs of its users. As Mosseri mentioned, the platform aims to “do better by the content today,” and this shift could be a step towards achieving that goal.
However, the potential departure from the square grid may take some getting used to. Instagram users, particularly those who have carefully curated their profiles over the years, might need time to adjust to the new format. As the platform continues to evolve, only time will tell how this change will be received by the Instagram community.