Instagram wants users to start fresh. Why?

Instagram app

Instagram knows your feed is cluttered — and they want to “help.”

Instagram wants users to start fresh. Why?

The platform has started prompting users with a notification encouraging them to create a new account to “keep up with a smaller group of friends,” per The Wall Street Journal.

The move reflects new trends in online engagement

Namely, that users are shifting from a mindset of “get as many likes as possible” to private messaging with smaller groups.

Notably, the platform already offers options to help users maintain a tighter feed, including:

  • Setting accounts to private
  • Sharing posts with “Close Friends” only

Users can also cleanse their feed by going on an unfollowing spree — but risk awkward conversations if the “unfollowed” take it personally.

Another reason for the move…

… is better ad targeting. By pushing a user to start over and only follow accounts they identify with, Instagram can target users with more relevant ads — which, in turn, will drive more engagement.

Another benefit? If users create new accounts without deleting their existing ones, it will boost the app’s daily active user count.

So while a cleaner feed may lead to a better user experience, it will likely lead to bigger profits for Instagram too.

Related Articles

Get the 5-minute news brief keeping 2.5M+ innovators in the loop. Always free. 100% fresh. No bullsh*t.