Instagram Reaches 3 Billion Users & New Feed Control Features

Instagram Reaches 3 Billion Monthly Active Users

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Instagram Head Adam Mosseri recently announced that Instagram has surpassed 3 billion monthly active users.

This represents a significant achievement for the platform owned by Meta. It had previously reached 1 billion users in 2018.

Growth Drivers and Future Focus

According to Mosseri, the platform’s recent expansion has largely been fueled by DMs, Reels, and content recommendations.

Consequently, Instagram intends to prioritize these features and further refine the app’s focus around them in the coming months.

The emphasis on short-form video and algorithmic recommendations has been a key factor in Instagram’s growth.

User Feedback and Algorithm Control

However, these changes haven't been without criticism. Some users have expressed dissatisfaction with the shift away from content from known contacts and a preference for seeing more photos.

Instagram is responding by planning to introduce tools that allow users to customize the content recommendation algorithm, initially for Reels, with potential expansion to other feeds.

An early preview of this feature shows users being able to toggle topics of interest.

For example, if Instagram suggests content related to college football, film photography, or chess, users will be able to remove topics they are no longer interested in.

App Interface Updates

Furthermore, Instagram is considering modifying the app’s bottom navigation bar.

The current button for uploading content may be replaced with a more direct link to Direct Messages (DMs).

Internal Tensions and Meta's Strategy

Recent legal proceedings concerning Meta’s acquisitions of WhatsApp and Instagram have revealed internal communications.

These emails highlight a perceived tension between Facebook and Instagram, with Instagram becoming increasingly culturally significant.

While Meta benefits from Instagram’s popularity, Zuckerberg has voiced concerns that Instagram’s growth may be contributing to Facebook’s declining user base.

Meta is actively developing strategies to revitalize Facebook’s appeal, particularly among younger demographics.