IS INSTAGRAM CHANGING TO A FOUR ACROSS GRID? (AND WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOU AS A CREATIVE)
NOTE: This blog post is part 7 of my INSTAGRAM SERIES - content all about helping YOU manage your way around instagram. In the INSTAGRAM SERIES I've touched on subjects such as why you're losing followers (and what to do about it), how to grow your instagram following and (the popular) simple tips to enjoy instagram (despite the algorithms). Just click here to find all the other parts in the series.
Now I admit that today's topic IS INSTAGRAM CHANGING TO A 4-ACROSS GRID? Isn't half as juicy as last time's offering. However, considering the outrage (yes, really!) the possible change in grid layout has caused among the creative community, I felt it was worth writing a quick note about.
SO WHAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE HAPPENING TO OUR INSTAGRAM GRIDS?
According to Refinery 29, it looks like instagram may be preparing to change the layout of the app we all love so much. Rather than seeing 3 images in a row, instagram appears to be gearing up to displaying our grids with four images in one row. Instagram - in famous instagram fashion - has been schtum about the matter at the point of putting this blog post together. BUT, all signs are pointing towards the fact that it WILL happen!
WHY WOULD INSTAGRAM CHANGE TO A 4 GRID LAYOUT?
We use bigger phones
When the instagram app was created in 2010 most smart phones had smallers screens and having 3 images in one row was all the eye could manage. But people's mobile screens have gotten bigger and hence now four images across is much more digestable.
We can obtain more information in a shorter amount of time
Having four images in one row, means we need to scroll less to see more! We can see more visual data and make the most of the limited time we've got.
To stay fresh and move with social media times
Instagram is a very 'trendy' social media app and I'm sure that if you ask a group of 18-35 year olds what their favourite app is, Instagram would come out on top. But you don't stay fresh, trendy and innovative if you don't reinvent yourself, do ya? And so, perhaps this is their way of shaking things up and staying on top of their game!?
IS THERE MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE TO THIS POSSIBLE INSTA CHANGE?
I genuinely believe Instagram is keen for people to have a good user experience (happy costumers means happy business owners). I DO suspect however that there is more to this possible change than meets the eye!
I assume it's got something to do with second point listed above (us consuming more content in a shorter amount of time), but the truth is, only time will tell what this all is really about. What do you think? I'd love to hear your comments in the comment section!
WHAT DOES THE INSTAGRAM GRID CHANGE LAYOUT MEAN FOR CREATIVES?
It will be even harder to stand out and get noticed
Instagram is a pretty overcrowded place already and being noticed as a creative will be even harder.
It will be more difficult to grow your following
With sooooo much content on instagram and now even more content for consumers to absorb, it will be trickier to grow your following and ensure people click through to look at your gallery AND press the FOLLOW button.
You will need to up our game
This connects to the previous point about needing to stand out because the only way to do so is by creating high quality content! Without sounding like some dodgy motivational coach, good just won't be good enough anymore. YIKES! High pressure! Not sure it's gonna be that much fun, though a challenge is always good, right?
Could it stifle creativity?
As it stands the more you stick to a 'theme' for your grid, the closer you follow a particular 'format', the better you do on instagram. (See this post here for details). And now with so much data overflowing our senses will it be that a certain type of content (my guess: loud smoothie bowls and bold colours) will be the winning formula? And if there IS a winning formula, will we become slaves to it rather than follow our heart, our intuition and our creativity? What do you think? I'd love to hear your thoughts below ;).
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Thanks for reading everyone. See you all next week!