Instagram is currently experimenting with a revamped layout for user profile grids, transitioning from the traditional square images to a new format that incorporates rectangular photographs. Adam Mosseri, the head of Instagram, shared via an Instagram story that the platform is exploring a vertical grid layout for profiles. He pointed out that the original square grid format was conceived when Instagram only supported square-shaped photo uploads.
However, that era has passed, and now the majority of content uploaded to Instagram is in vertical formats, predominantly 4:5 images and 9:16 videos. Mosseri described the process of resizing these uploads to fit a square frame as “pretty brutal,” indicating a significant loss of visual content.
The current video tab on Instagram already showcases a rectangular grid layout, so the new experimental design for profiles may seem somewhat familiar to users. According to a screenshot shared by a user on Threads, the test profile grid looks identical to the video tab’s grid, with the key difference being that it features both photo and video posts.
A representative from Instagram informed The Verge that this new grid layout is being tested with a limited user base. The Instagram team is seeking feedback on this change and will consider user responses before deciding whether to make the new grid layout more widely available.
This initiative to redesign the profile grid into a rectangular format is not entirely new. Reverse engineer Alessandro Paluzzi had uncovered evidence of Instagram’s work on this new layout as early as 2022. It appears that the testing phase has expanded to include more users.
However, the response from the Instagram community has been mixed. Mosseri’s story was a direct response to a user’s plea during his “Ask Me Anything” session, where the user implored the platform to retain the classic square grid layout.
