The most downloaded app in the world is going back to its roots. Instagram is getting a refresh with a renewed focus on photos for 2023, says Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri.
“I think we were overfocused on video in 2022 and pushed ranking too far, and basically showed too many videos and not enough photos. We’ve since balanced, so things like how often someone likes photos versus videos, and how often someone comments on photos versus videos, are roughly equal, which is a good sign that things are balanced.”
Adam Mosseri, CEO, Instagram
Launched in 2010, Instagram is the second most accessed network behind Facebook. And the fourth largest social network — behind only Facebook, YouTube and WhatsApp.
In recent years, Instagram has pushed video for both users and creators. This video-centered approach helped it stunt the growth of rival Snapchat, and saw Instagram user base surge, especially among younger users.
The focus on photos will certainly be of benefit for businesses, as photos are a key to branding and marketing, and less expensive to produce. Though Instagram isn’t abandoning video —Mosseri further notes the network will continue to balance photos and videos.
Instagram grew to be the most downloaded app in the world through photos. The network’s renewed focus on photos signals the importance of images for both users and advertisers seeking to build a brand and market to the network’s growing user base.
Social Networks by the Numbers : Instagram possibly the most attractive option for businesses, compared to Snapchat’s person-to-person messaging focus. A full 90 percent of Instagram users follow at least one business, according to Hubspot. And 83 percent of users have discovered a new product or service on the platform. TikTok is also a nice fit for business, though one fourth of TikTok users — the largest age group — is 10-19 years old, not an ideal fit for most businesses. More than half of Instagram users fall in the 25-54 age range, which also represents the demographics with the most disposable income. Instagram is also Gen Z’s (23-38) favorite social platform. Though teens aren’t abandoning the network. In fact, usage among teens (13-17) increased 4 percent over the past year.
Braden Social LLC 