Instagram is eradicating the Store tab, shifting Reels from the middle spot in design overhaul subsequent month

Instagram introduced immediately it would simplify its in-app navigation after years of complicated adjustments designed to push numerous merchandise like Instagram Store and Reels. The corporate says, starting in February, it would return the Compose button (the plus signal “+”) to the entrance and heart of the navigation bar on the backside of the app and it’ll take away the Store tab fully.

Because of this, the Reels button will now transfer over to the appropriate of Compose, dropping its prime spot.

The sooner adjustments that had pushed Reels over Compose had been pretty controversial as Instagram customers felt as if the corporate was forcing them to make use of the app’s new merchandise on the expense of the general person expertise. The corporate had first relocated the Reels tab to the center of the navigation bar in 2020, when it also replaced the popular Activity tab with the Shop tab as a substitute. The Compose button and Exercise had been additionally then relocated to the highest proper of the house display, making them tougher to seek out. On the time, Instagram defined these adjustments would make it simpler for customers to entry Instagram’s “expanded suite of merchandise.”

However in more moderen months, there’s been elevated backlash over how far Instagram has deviated from its unique mission.

Final yr, for instance, high-profile Instagram customers Kim Kardashian and Kylie Jenner added their voices to user complaints, as Jenner posted a picture to her Instagram begging the corporate to “make Instagram Instagram once more,” and to “cease attempting to be tiktok.” Kim then echoed these sentiments in a publish to her Tales. Along with the aggressive Reels push, the celebs had been upset over adjustments to the Instagram feed that extra usually pushed video content material and beneficial posts, quite than the polished pictures that had helped make them well-known.

However the stunt caught Instagram’s consideration, main Instagram head Adam Mosseri to respond to the criticism to guarantee customers that pictures had been nonetheless a precedence. He additionally addressed frustration with the growing variety of Advisable (algorithmically instructed posts) on customers’ feeds, which appeared to be Instagram’s try to construct out its personal model of TikTok’s For You web page.

The upcoming redesign received’t deal with all customers’ complaints, after all — shifting buttons round doesn’t imply the feed itself will change — however it would at the very least supply an easier expertise for customers who simply wish to publish their pictures, as earlier than. And by reprioritizing the Compose button, customers could really feel subtly inspired to return to posting pictures.

There have been hints that Instagram was contemplating this route when a test last fall began removing the Instagram Shop tab from the some customers’ house screens, hiding it beneath Settings as a substitute. Instagram mentioned then it was solely an experiment with a small variety of customers. Nonetheless, The Information had reported the rationale for the change was as a consequence of a shift within the “firm priorities,” in keeping with an inside memo.

The corporate immediately says the removing of the Store tab doesn’t essentially imply the top of procuring on Instagram, nevertheless.

“You’ll nonetheless be capable to arrange and run your store on Instagram as we proceed to spend money on procuring experiences that present probably the most worth for folks and companies throughout Feed, Tales, Reels, advertisements, and extra,” a spokesperson mentioned.

Instagram says the changes to its navigation will attain its customers in February.