Instagram updates to rectangular profile feed view

In one of the more controversial updates to social media in a long time, Instagram has turned away from their traditional square feed view.

Yes, that’s correct. Instagram users, businesses and graphic designers across the world are asking “why” the company has changed the way we see profile feeds. In reality, Instagram started trialling this last August with an estimated 10% of users.

Whilst we wish to stay as neutral as possible, it remains to be seen whether this roll out will be here to stay. We expect it will, and all we can do is adapt to the changing browsing habits of the app’s users.

But if you’re still concerned, read this article to discover why the update was rolled out, and what you should do next.

Old vs New: The Dimensions of Images

When the app was first launched back in 2010, users were immediately drawn to the aesthetically pleasing square images, and many spent countless hours carefully curating their content to make their profile as visually appealing as possible.

These images traditionally used the square 1:1 ratio, which meant they were uploaded at 1080 x 1080 pixels. Vertical posts, such as stories or reels, have always been rectangles.

However, since the change, these portrait-orientated posts now appear in a 4:5 ratio, and come with new dimensions:

• Old - 1:1 ratio - 1080 x 1080 pixels (square)
• New - 4:5 ratio - 1080 x 1350 pixels (portrait rectangle)

Why do we think Instagram rolled out this update?

For anyone with experience of social media, you’ll know that other apps, such as TikTok, already use the 9:16 ratio for their videos, and in the modern age, people are becoming more used to taking videos and photos in portrait view.

It also allows users to:

• Create bigger, more detailed posts - having larger images on your feed gives you the opportunity to engage with more users, as the posts will take up more of the screen.

• Tell better stories - this is especially true if you are selling products or services, as the rectangular structure means you can add more information about what you’re selling to the graphic.

• Reduce the time spent cropping images - one of the main issues users had with Instagram was having to reduce their photos down in size. With the new update, this is no longer the case.

What do you need to do next?

Whether you’re managing your own Instagram feed, or working on behalf of a client, there are a couple of things you’ll need to do now. These include:

• Resize your existing content: It’s time to redesign your content so it fits into the 1080 x 1350 pixel (4:5 ratio) size, allowing you to take full advantage of the update.

• Reassess your content designs: Think carefully about how you’re going to design your posts moving forward. More real estate means more messaging.

• Experiment with new layouts: The extra height gives you the opportunity to develop infographics, carousels and other storytelling formats.

• Audit your old content: Square posts still appear on feeds, but it’s worth gradually replacing those with the portrait format to keep your feed looking fresh.

Is there a way to change your Instagram feed back?

The short answer is no, there is no way to change your feed back to showing as squares.

The longer answer is that there is a way you can adjust the way your images show, without having to redo all your graphics. However, there will be a large border at the top and bottom of the image, which doesn’t have the same appeal as correctly-sized graphics.

To change the images:

• Go to your profile feed on the Instagram app

• Click on one of your photos, and click the three dots

• Select “Adjust preview”

• Select either “Fit” or “Fill” and see what it looks like

If you are doing this, please remember that if the images you originally uploaded weren’t in the 1:1 ratio, the border we mentioned will be a different size on each photo.

To summarise

Whether you like the change or not, it’s here to stay. Here at Serenity Digital, we are firm believers that any development on social media is an opportunity to grow, and this applies to the new Instagram layout.

If you need help with editing your social media content, or if you would like someone to take control of your content marketing on your behalf, drop us a message using the contact form, or by emailing us directly. 

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