This is one of the most popular Instagram features. However, the social network plans to fundamentally change its system, even if it means worrying its users.
Instagram very often offers updates to its millions of users. And some regularly prove disappointing, if not irritating. Mark Zuckerberg’s application is particularly criticized for imitating its competitors X (formerly Twitter) and Tiktok, with the addition of real numbers and notes. And there are more and more dissatisfied people.
Many users are complaining about a brand new change coming, even if it means threatening to uninstall Instagram: “Instagram removes bubbles from the front page, wtf? Brother, it’s my whole personality, I’m nothing, my account is nothing without them”can we read from a user on X. “It’s unfair”, “That’s my entire travel history.”, “WHAT IS MY WHOLE LIFE”others respond.
Because this time, Instagram wants to tackle featured stories, which appear to many Instagram users as an effective way to preserve their memories. Naturally intended to only survive 24 hours on a profile, stories can however be saved and grouped in the form of featured albums on any account.
Instagram boss Adam Mosseri is looking to change everything. A brand new interface will transform the application, and the least we can say is that it is not unanimous. During a live on Instagram, Adam Mosseri discussed future changes regarding featured stories: “We are trying to find a way to improve the profile and simplify the content […] You will still be in control, you will still be able to pin things, there will be a dedicated highlights tab, but we don’t need to have bubbles and make it all complicated.”.
So, no more bubbles, but a whole new system. Adam Mosseri plans to add a fourth tab to your profile, located between the one dedicated to your posts and the one grouping your real ones. If the update is not yet applied on Instagram, some users are experiencing its inconveniences before everyone else. Because they were randomly designated as test subjects, the new features have already been installed on their application, much to their regret.
With this controversial update, Instagram wishes to streamline its users’ navigation and aestheticize the profile pages, which would be “polluted” by the bubbles of the featured stories. Meta may reverse its decisions, but only if the general discontent is sufficiently heard by users of the social network.