Get ready for a major shift. If you’re one of the millions of Instagram users in India, the way you use the app could be changing very soon. Instagram, owned by Meta, is rolling out a massive, ‘Reels-first’ feed redesign for select users in the country—a clear signal that short-form video and messaging are the future.
This isn’t a small tweak; it’s a total priority realignment. Instead of landing on your traditional photo feed when you open the app, you might soon be dumped directly into the infinitely scrolling world of Reels. This bold move reflects the global, explosive growth of video consumption and comes right as Instagram casually announced it crossed 3 billion monthly active users worldwide.
Why Is India the Ultimate Test Lab?
The answer is simple: India is Instagram’s single largest market, and the nation has an insatiable appetite for short-form video.
By putting Reels in the feeds front, Meta simply accepts that they want our time. The goal is to dramatically increase the amount of time people spend on the Instagram app. More screen time equals higher engagement, which is the vital heartbeat of any platform’s growth strategy. If it works in India, it works anywhere.
Navigation Gets a Serious Tune-Up
While the core focus is video, Meta hasn’t forgotten about communication. The redesign is also streamlining navigation to make chatting easier:
- Stories remain prominently displayed at the top.
- Direct Messages (DMs) are now only a quick swipe away in the navigation bar, speeding up communication.
Crucially, Meta is also trialling a new ‘Following’ tab that gives users three distinct ways to browse content, moving away from the “one-size-fits-all” feed:
- A single combined feed of all followed accounts.
- A ‘Friends’ view highlighting posts from mutual followers.
- A ‘Latest’ section that delivers posts in pure chronological order.
This is a smart way to offer more control to users without overwhelming them, keeping the overall navigation clean and simple.
This Isn’t a Trial Run; It’s an Incubation Hub
India’s role goes beyond just being a big market; it’s Meta’s incubation hub. The country has become the epicentre of Reels culture, driving much of the app’s daily engagement. Meta reports that users share over 4.5 billion pieces of content daily across its platforms, and a massive chunk of that momentum comes from India. It’s where new features are tested under real-world, high-traffic conditions before a potential global rollout.
The global plan is clear: simplify navigation. DMs are getting a central spot, and Reels is the firm’s number-two priority. The ultimate design allows users to seamlessly swipe between videos, chats, and the feed, eliminating the tiny moments of friction that cause people to jump off the app.
The Big Bet on Discovery and the Younger Generation
By prioritising Reels, Instagram is making a huge bet that this will be the best way for you to:
- Discover new creators and content tailored exactly to your interests.
- Catch up with friends (thanks to that improved DM access).
- Share your own creative ideas with a much wider, hungry audience.
The platform fully expects these changes to drive massive engagement, particularly among teenagers, who are the most voracious consumers of short-form video globally.
When Will This Hit Your Phone?
Hold your horses. This is currently a limited test and has not been universally rolled out. It could take weeks before a broader release, and Meta hasn’t even confirmed if the Reels-first experience will become the permanent global standard or remain an experiment exclusive to high-priority markets like India.
For now, the message is clear: video is king, and Instagram is finally adjusting its crown.
