Key Points
- Instagram is testing a new menu bar layout for a small group of users.
- The new design prioritizes Reels and DMs, replacing the “Create Post” button with a DMs tab.
- The company says Reels and DMs have been its biggest drivers of growth.
- The change is part of Instagram’s ongoing evolution from a photo-sharing app to a content consumption and private messaging platform.
Instagram is testing a new menu bar that puts its two biggest growth drivers, Reels and DMs, in the spotlight. In an announcement, Instagram head Adam Mosseri said that some users will have the option to try out a new layout that rearranges elements at the bottom of the app.
The new design makes two significant changes. It swaps the positions of the “Search” and “Reels” tabs, giving short-form video a more prominent spot. More dramatically, it replaces the dedicated “Create Post” button with a new tab for “DMs” (Direct Messages).
Mosseri acknowledged that these kinds of changes can “take time to get used to,” which is why the new layout is an optional test for now.
This move is part of a larger, ongoing shift for Instagram. The company has been clear that it is prioritizing short-form video and private messaging. “Reels and DMs have driven most of our growth at Instagram over the last few years, so we are exploring making them the first two tabs,” Mosseri said.
For longtime users who remember Instagram as a simple photo-sharing app, the change might be jarring. But it reflects a fundamental change in how people use the platform.
As public posting has become more polished and professional, private sharing and chatting have exploded in popularity. The new layout is a clear signal that Instagram sees its future as a place to discover content from creators and then talk about it with friends in private chats.
