Instagram's Missing Photos: Why I'm Tired of Scrolling Through Endless Stories and Filters
0Therefore, it is not surprising that Instagram and TikTok have been engaged in a bitter conflict. The company has been heavily promoting its short videos called "Reels" (or, pushing them down our throats), and many legacy IG users weren't too thrilled. Thanks to Adam Mosseri's most recent story, it now seems as though he himself acknowledges that Instagram has too many videos.
Despite being considered a significant security risk by the American government, TikTok rules the market for short videos. Since the first absurd challenge gained traction, it has been reducing the number of users on YouTube, Snapchat, and Instagram. This led to the creation of numerous obscure clone apps, including Instagram Reels, Snapchat Spotlight, and YouTube Shorts. You could say that TikTok has had a noticeable impact on internet culture as a whole.
All of us have noticed a rise in Instagram videos in 2022. During a Q&A session, Adam Mosseri responded to this question (per The Verge). It's been expired since it was published as a story. He added, "I think we were overfocused on video in 2022 and pushed ranking too far, basically showing too many videos and not enough photos. That is something we have felt throughout 2022 in particular.
However, we shouldn't hold Instagram or Mosseri solely responsible for this. Keep in mind that TikTok and Meta have been at odds, and that Meta owns Instagram. You can imagine that Mosseri is under a lot of pressure given the company's numerous attacks on TikTok, which is owned by Mark Zuckerberg.
In any case, Adam Mosseri did claim that the organization is making behind-the-scenes efforts to improve the situation's balance. That's good news for those who typically upload photos to the platform. He also added that "To the extent that there is more video on Instagram over time, it's going to be because that's what's driving overall engagement more...," suggesting that the battle may still be uphill.
Videos therefore increase platform engagement, which is essential for any social media platform. In spite of the fact that many people dislike Instagram's new video-centric direction, it appears to be effective. We should, ideally, notice a more balanced platform throughout the year.