Is Instagram Moving Away From Video in 2023?

Over the last few years, it’s become very clear that video is king when it comes to online content.

What began as only a focus for Youtube expanded to Instagram Reels, Facebook Reels, TikTok, LinkedIn videos, and more.

Over the last year, engagement and views have skyrocketed on video content more than anything else on all the biggest social platforms.

But an announcement quietly made in January by Instagram could be a preview of some bigger changes to come.

Starting in February 2023, Instagram’s navigation will return to its former setup – with the Compose button moving front and center in its navigation. The Shop button will be completely removed, and Reels will be moved off of its prime position.

No longer a photo app?

For those of us old enough to remember the original Instagram, it was originally created as a photo app. Users could only share square images with a limited amount of copy underneath.

But with the rise in popularity of TikTok over the last few years, it seems that Meta (Instagram/Facebook) has been racing to catch up. In fact, in 2021, the head of Instagram stated that Instagram was, “No longer a photo-sharing app.”

Last year the company leaned hard into video content, giving Reels and Stories the edge for engagement, reach, and discoverability. If you posted images on your business feed over the last year that got only 1, 2, or even no likes at all, know that you are not alone.

Even celebrities took to Instagram last year to complain about some of the new features that made spending time on the app less enjoyable. While Instagram did remove some of those features, they’ve kept our Feeds very video-focused – even when it’s not from the accounts you care about.

Should you change your Instagram strategy in 2023?

Now that Instagram is moving Reels away from the top spot in Navigation, many creators are hopeful this means a more balanced focus on images and videos is coming.

Will returning to the classic look of Instagram also mean returning to a focus on actual photos instead of short videos? Only time will tell, but our team will be watching closely.

In the meantime, should you change your marketing strategy in 2023 based on these updates? We say, not yet.

Keep short-form videos a high priority for your content creation this year. But don’t totally give up on static images. A healthy mix of both types of content will ensure that you don’t miss your audience – wherever Instagram decides to help them find you today.

Do you need help creating a social media strategy that WORKS in 2023? Our team is offering free consultations and we’d love to speak with you!

Reach out today right here to see how Red Bird Social can help you reach your goals.