Instagram is experimenting with a major redesign that puts short-form video at the center of the app.
As part of an opt-in test in India, the platform is making Reels and direct messages (DMs) the first two tabs, Instagram head Adam Mosseri announced.
According to Mosseri, Reels and DMs have been the biggest drivers of growth in recent years, which is why Meta is “exploring” the change. In his post, he shared a video demo: the new home tab still begins with Stories at the top, but scrolling down transforms the feed into a Reels-style layout dominated by full-screen videos. Mosseri noted that photos from accounts you follow will still appear, though the demo didn’t show exactly how.
Instagram has already hinted at this shift with its recently launched iPad app, which opens directly into Reels. At the time, Meta said the design reflected how people use larger screens for “lean back entertainment.” The new mobile test suggests the company could soon give Reels an even more central role in the Instagram experience.
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