At the beginning of social media history, the Instagram feed was a place to simply see what people were up to.
Until 2016, Instagram users could scroll until the end of their feed, which was viewable in chronological order, and call it a day. However, Instagram eventually updated this so that our feeds are comprised of a mix of sponsored ads and algorithm-curated content.
But in 2022, Instagram is making headlines by doing the unthinkable: going back to the chronological feed. Here’s how Instagram’s feed will change with the introduction of three new home screen views.
Instagram Tests Three Different Home Views
According to a Tweet by Instagram Head Adam Mosseri, Instagram is testing three different feed views on the Instagram home screen—Home, Favorites, and Following.
Out of the three new views, Favorites and Following will be sorted chronologically. While Favorites will focus on helping users keep track of close friends and family, Instagram will still let users see posts from everyone else they follow on their Following view.
On the other hand, the Home view will retain the algorithm-based feed, which has been the Instagram standard for years. Mosseri says the Home view will feature more recommendations with time and will act similar to the discovery hub.
As of writing, there’s no word yet on how this will affect Instagram’s existing Explore tab.
While Instagram is already slowly rolling out the new home screen view changes, it plans to roll out the final version of its chronological feed options in the first half of 2022. Here’s to hope that Instagram’s new feed view changes will be optimal for mental health.
Instagram Brings Back Chronological Feeds
While Instagram has definitely evolved with time, not all users are convinced that it was always for the better. Thankfully, developers are listening, and we may be getting more options for our Instagram feed views soon.
With the re-introduction of the chronological feed view, Instagram users will have more control over the kind of content that they consume. In the age of endless ads and ever-changing algorithms, it’s likely going to be a breath of fresh air for Instagram users everywhere.
About The Author
