Ok, here’s exactly why your Instagram format has changed and whether you can reverse it back

Now the drama of the TikTok ban has blown over and the influencers have dried their eyes after completely losing their heads, the focus is back on Instagram and exactly what is going on with its formatting right now.

If you’re one of the unlucky few, you will have noticed that Instagram unexpectedly rolled out a new layout over the weekend, which previews posts in a longer format than the previous squares that the app is known and loved for.

It might not seem like a huge deal, but even if it wasn’t completely ugly, it also makes no sense as it literally looks like a glitch. What’s more, the follower and post count seems to have bunched up as well and it’s actually an assault on the eyes. Um, what the hell is going on Instagram?

Here’s why your Instagram format has changed and whether you can reverse it

via Instagram @thetabofficial

It’s not the first time that Instagram has changed its formatting, with posts previously being displayed in longer format on the homepage in an effort to support video formats such as Reels.

But the most recent change has been implemented on some accounts over the weekend, without the app being updated or tweaked with. Thumbnail posts are now in a vertical format and are more aligned with Reels, arguably in an effort to replicate the experience of TikTok.

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And whilst it’s pretty unfortunate if it happened to you, it’s unlikely you can reverse it. That’s because it’s an update which Instagram is test rolling out on a number of accounts before making it part of the app, the same way that some accounts are able to post carousels of 20 photos whilst others still can’t.

In fact, the longer thumbnail posts are actually part of a two part phase the app is rolling out to make its format more vertical, which is suited to how most people use the app, according to Instagram chief Adam Mosseri.

But if you hate it, you’re not alone. Adam admitted that there’s been some “quite negative” feedback to the change, but that it was made in an effort to create a “simpler, cleaner place that maintains, and even increases, creator control.”

via Threads

Explaining how the new format will actually give us more control over the layout of our grid, Adam said: “We started with the tall grid because most photos and videos that are uploaded to Instagram at this point are vertical and rectangles do a better job showing off those photos and videos.”

via Threads

But apparently, we’ll be getting some control back over our grid soon, as the app is currently working on ways to change the layout.

In a statement on Threads, Adam continued: “That said, I know some of you spend a lot of time tweaking your grids and this blew all of that up, so we’re going to improve the ability to customise those thumbnails to make it easier to get back to a place you’re happy with.”

So after creating a taller grid, the app plans to make it easier to customise thumbnails so you have more creative control over how your feed looks. And if I know anything, Molly-Mae is going to lose her shit over this new feature.

Also, for the more low key IG users, there will even be a feature which lets you post directly to your feed, bypassing the homepage entirely.

So first they take our Story Highlights, now they’re taking our classic square posts. What the hell is next?