Instagram Introduces Refreshed Home Screen That Does Away With Shopping Tab
Miss having the ‘new post’ tab front and center of the Instagram home screen? Well, it seems the social media network has heeded users’ calls, as it recently unveiled a redesigned home page that will see the ‘Create’ button back in its rightful spot.
The change, which will be rolling out this February, will see the Reels tab move to the side and the Shop button removed completely, so there’ll be no more instances of mistakenly hitting the wrong button when all you’re looking to do is upload a new post.
According to Instagram Head Adam Mosseri, the application’s shopping feature will still exist in users’ feed, Reels, Stories, and advertisements. However, there will no longer be a dedicated tab to offer recommended products based on one’s browsing habits.
Mosseri said the platform wanted to “simplify” the service through the home screen refresh, and “make it easier for people to create, be entertained, and connect with friends over the things they love.”
As Engadget noted, Instagram’s main competitor, TikTok, still features a prominent “new post” button despite the introduction of shopping features. Could this be the secret to the platform’s 1.64 billion monthly active users?
Those with shops on the application need not worry. Despite the removal of the tab, users will still be able to set up and run shops on the network, with Instagram saying it plans to continue investing in shopping experiences for both users and businesses.
[via Engadget and Meta, cover image via Adam Mosseri]
