Essential Instagram updates this month!

A woman holding a newspaper. The newspaper obscures her face. We can see her hands holding the newspaper either side, her nails are painted bright purple and yellow.

After the TikTok ban scare, Instagram released some pretty shocking Instagram updates and it’s essential to stay up to date. From updates to Reels, DMs and ranking content it’s been a big month to keep up with!

Edits

Instagram launches its own editing app, ‘Edits’. Edits is Instagram’s rival version of CapCut, an editing software made by TikTok! It’s about time this came along as editing in app on Instagram has been… challenging to say the least. We can’t wait to have a play around and give our verdict on the new software!

A PremierPro edit timeline page on a desktop screen. Purple video clips with FX stamps sit at the top of the screen and green audio tracks lay at the bottom of the screen.

Ranking across Reels

The ranking factors have changed across Reels! Instagram has updated the three factors that matter the most for your reels. Firstly, average watch time, this metric is all about how long viewers watch your reels from start to finish! Followed by likes per reach, this is how many likes your Reel received VS how many people actually saw it! Finally we have sends per reach, this is how often your reels are shared!

Gold scales of justice sit on top of a plain grey desk next to a sleek slate grey laptop. The scales are evenly weighed.

Longer Reels

Speaking of Reels, Instagram is now favouring longer Reels! Gone are the days of hooks and getting people engaged for the first 3 seconds. Instagram has now introduced 3 minute Reels to encourage high quality content.

A duck egg blue alarm clock with silver hardware against half pastel pink and half pastel blue background. The clock shows the time as 7pm.

Screenshot blocking!

Screenshot blocking! Instagram has stopped sneaky screenshots for good. If you send a DM in vanish mode or view once Instagram will popup with this notification!

Screenshot
A red hexagonal stop sign on a grey steel pole. It is in focus against a fussy countryside background.

Re-ordering!
Two wooden bookshelves full of miscellaneous white books, most lay flush with each other horizontally but some lay stacked on top of them. A dark wooden ladder lays against the bookshelf.

There’s also been talk of having the ability to re-order your grid on your profile! This could give brands a chance to bump their evergreen content up to become visible again at the top of their profile grid. However, this update does make us wonder if Instagram is straying too far from its original concept as an app, it’s not about aesthetics it’s about community isn’t it?

What’s your favourite or most shocking Instagram update this month? Let us know!

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