Instagram Revamps Its Featured Stories: Gone are the Circular Icons, Now a GridTakes Center Stage
Instagram is once again shaking things up with a significant redesign,this time targeting its much-loved Featured Stories feature. The familiar circular icons that previously graced the top of user profiles are disappearing, replaced by a new grid layoutthat places featured stories within the main feed.
The change, which began rolling out in September 2024, has been met with a mix ofcuriosity and confusion from users. While some have embraced the new aesthetic, others are struggling to adapt to the shift in layout.
Previously, featured stories were prominently displayed as a row of circular icons at the top of a user’sprofile. This allowed users to easily navigate through their chosen highlights. However, the new update moves these stories into a dedicated tab, marked by a heart icon, which appears alongside other profile sections like posts, reels, and tagged content.
Within this new tab, featured stories are displayed as a grid, similar to the layout of a user’s main feed. This change, while visually different, retains the core functionality of featured stories. Users can still access and browse through their chosen highlights, with each story appearing as a separate square within the grid.
The change is part of Meta’s ongoing efforts to keep Instagram fresh and engaging. The company has been experimenting with various design changes and new features in recent months, including the introduction of a new reels tab and the integration of AI-powered features.
This latest update, however, isa significant departure from the platform’s traditional layout, and its impact on user experience remains to be seen. While some users may appreciate the new grid format, others might find it less intuitive and miss the convenience of the previous circular icons.
The change also comes at a time when Instagram is facing increasing competition fromother social media platforms, particularly TikTok. The platform’s focus on short-form video content has made it a popular choice for younger audiences, and Instagram has been actively trying to adapt its features to stay relevant.
The new featured stories layout, with its grid format, could be seen as an attempt to mirror
Views: 0