August 2, 2022
Instagram has announced plans to suspend the launch of new features after a backlash from top-rated users on the platform.
Controversial features include an increase in recommended videos mimicking rival app TikTok, which users criticized for preventing them from seeing photos of friends and family.
Instagram boss Adam Mosseri said the trial version of the revamped app would be phased out within weeks.
“I’m glad we took a risk – if we’re not failing every once in a while, we’re not thinking big enough or bold enough. But we definitely need to take a big step back and regroup. [When] we’ve learned a lot, then we come back with some sort of new idea or iteration. So we’re going to work through that,” Mosseri said.
Several celebrities criticized the company’s decision, with reality TV stars Kim Kardashian and Kylie Jenner sharing a meme on their stories asking to “make Instagram Instagram again’.”
“Based on our findings and community feedback, we’re pausing the full-screen test on Instagram, so we can explore other options, and we’re temporarily decreasing the number of recommendations you see in your feed so we can improve the quality of your experience. We recognise that changes to the app can be an adjustment, and while we believe that Instagram needs to evolve as the world changes, we want to take the time to make sure we get this right,” said a Meta spokesperson.
The sources for this piece include an article in BBC.
