The Biggest Instagram Updates 2025

The Biggest Instagram Updates You Need To Know About In 2025

The team from Instagram have kicked off 2025 with a bang. In the first few weeks of the year, Instagram has rolled out a stack of game-changing updates that will fundamentally change the way brands and creators grow on Instagram.

Off the back of TikTok’s turbulent start to 2025 (including a brief TikTok ban in January 2025), there’s never been a better time to diversify your social media marketing strategy. But the era of square photos and bite-sized videos is well behind us, with Instagram now prioritizing new aspect ratios and video lengths.

However, not everyone has been happy with the updates made by the Meta team. Many users have voiced frustration with one of Instagram’s latest pivots to vertical grid sizing. This update ruined the carefully curated grids of millions of users. Plus, many smaller creators and businesses have been calling for the platform to focus on more meaningful updates, like releasing tools and algorithm changes that would help smaller accounts reach more users organically on the platform.

While these updates might fall short of users’ expectations, it’s still important to stay up to date with the latest app functionality on Instagram. By learning how to maximize Instagram’s new features and platform updates, you can ensure your content cuts through and reaches your ideal audience in 2025.

In this article, we’ll cover:

• What are Instagram’s top priorities in 2025?
• 6 Instagram updates shaping the platform in 2025
  • 1 – Instagram kills square grid sizing
  • 2 – Reels can now be three minutes long
  • 3 – Instagram launches Edits, a new editing app
  • 4 – Your Instagram Profile gets a makeover
  • 5 – The Reels tab launches a ‘With friends’ tab
  • 6 – Trial Reels are here
• Coming soon: Instagram updates predicted to arrive in 2025

What are Instagram’s top priorities for 2025?

On January 14th 2025, Head of Instagram Adam Mosseri took to Reels to share what the platform’s focusing on in 2025—and it’s worth paying attention to.

In 2025, Instagram will be dominated by two key focus areas: creativity and connection.

Creativity means rolling out new creative “best in class” tools to help creators harness emerging technologies (like AI) to create incredible content. Adam explains these new tools will “allow more creators to create more content that they’re proud of, and by trying to reward creative content more by focusing ranking on things like originality.”

As for connection, Adam and the team are making direct messaging an even bigger focus on Instagram. It makes sense, considering DMs are the primary way people share content on Instagram. Plus, expect to see more interactive content formats on Instagram in 2025, designed to bring creators and their audiences closer together.

6 Instagram updates shaping the platform in 2025

Ready to stay up-to-date with Instagram’s best practice recommendations for creating content in 2025? Dive into the six biggest updates to hit Instagram in 2025 (so far).

Instagram Update 1. Instagram kills square grid sizing

It’s official: the square grid era is over on Instagram. Now, posts on your Instagram profile will be displayed in a new tall grid layout.

This update was quietly rolled out in early 2025, with many users unhappy about the sudden ratio change—and the chaos that has unfolded for anyone with an Instagram grid optimized for square sizing.

Now, all Instagram content needs to be optimized for a 4:5 ratio (1080 x 1350 pixels) rather than the classic square 1:1 ratio (1080 x 1080 pixels).

So, what sparked the change? Adam took to Threads to share that “We started with the tall grid because most photos and videos that are uploaded to Instagram at this point are vertical, and rectangles do a better job showing off those photos and videos”.

Instagram Update 2. Reels can now be three minutes long

Tired of getting cut off after 90 seconds on Instagram Reels? Creators, rejoice! Instagram has extended its maximum video length to three minutes.

In exciting news, Instagram Reels is shifting its focus away from bite-sized, short-form content in favor of longer, narrative storytelling.

If you haven’t already, now is the time to be testing and experimenting with publishing longer-form Reels to see if it drives deeper engagement with your audience. Why not film an extended Ask Me Anything Q&A session, a detailed product unboxing, or an in-depth winter styling guide showcasing pieces from your favorite brands?

Instagram Update 3. Instagram launches Edits, a new editing app

After TikTok and CapCut’s recent (albeit temporary) ban in the US, many creators are rightly wondering: what happens if TikTok is permanently banned in America?

In a well-timed series of events, Instagram appears to have the answer: Edits.

This brand new creation app is purpose-built to produce engaging video content. It has many of the features you know and love from CapCut and a full suite of creative production tools. Plus, you can film high-quality content right within the app to produce scroll-strolling content at scale.

It’s another sign that Instagram will continue rewarding creators for sharing original video content on the platform in 2025.

Yambo Link Tip: Try creating your next Instagram Reel on Edits to familiarize yourself with the app’s editing capabilities. Be sure to experiment with the new editing tools available on the platform, as there’s a good chance the Instagram algorithm will reward you for it! 

Instagram Update 4. Your Instagram Profile gets a makeover

Have you noticed a few design changes to your Instagram profile?

While the changes we’ve seen to date (such as reordering the placement of your account name and left-aligning your account’s follower metrics) have been small, there are bigger UX changes on the horizon.

In a recent Instagram post, Adam teased a number of future changes coming to Instagram profiles. This product roadmap includes the ability to customize thumbnails, moving Stories Highlights to the grid, and even reordering posts in your grid after publishing.

The aim seems to be to streamline the Instagram profile experience, while giving creators more control over the placement and order of grid content.

Instagram Update 5. The Reels tab launches a ‘With friends’ tab

Remember Instagram’s focus on ‘connection’ in 2025? That’s exactly what this next Instagram update is all about.

The Instagram Reels tab has a new feature called ‘With friends’, delivering a dedicated feed of Reels your friends have liked. The goal is to inspire conversations with friends on the platform and increase user-to-user interactions on Instagram.

While this update is slowly being rolled out across different regions, it’s already receiving mixed reviews from Instagrammers. Only time will tell whether this is a platform update that sticks around for the long term or not.

Yambo Link Tip: Maximize this new Instagram update by experimenting with the call to action you use in your Reels. Why not prompt your followers to share this video with a friend? 

Instagram Update 6. Trial Reels are here

Want to reach new audiences on Instagram with the power of video content? By now you know that Reels are one of the most discoverable pieces of content on Instagram. Adding Reels to your Instagram strategy is a tried-and-true way of boosting your organic reach on the platform.

In 2025, Instagram is helping you crack the code to grow your audience using Trial Reels.

As the name suggests, this feature allows you to share your Reels with non-followers first. If the video performs well, you can opt to share it with your followers. If not, you can go back to the drawing board to plan out a new piece of content.

Yambo Link Tip: Want to expand your audience and reach new shoppers on Instagram? Use Trial Reels to share videos promoting your best-selling products, without alienating your existing followers. Plus, it’ll help you figure out which creative will perform best in your paid ads, too! 

Coming soon: Instagram updates predicted to arrive in 2025

We’ve already got word that Instagram is working on a stack of other new features and product updates.

The next cab off the rank is predicted to be Movie Gen, an early AI research model from the team at Instagram. Adam explains that Movie Gen will “let you change nearly any aspect of your videos with a simple text prompt”.

We’re curious to see how this hyper-imaginative content style impacts the Instagram experience in 2025. And we’re not alone: many users have already voiced concerns about whether an increase in AI-driven videos will compromise the authenticity of content on Instagram.

Grow your audience on Instagram (and beyond) with Yambo Link

No matter what updates Instagram rolls out in 2025, one things for sure: there’s never been a better time to diversify your channels, safeguard your income streams and own your audience.

Explore these ownership features on Yambo Link and take control today.

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