Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri indicated the company will pull back a number of contentious updates days after revealing the platform’s redesign. The test version, which featured an algorithmically chosen feed with full-screen postings, was roundly criticized by users who claimed Instagram had veered away from its photo-centric roots in an effort to resemble TikTok.
Kim Kardashian and Kylie Jenner were among those who expressed their frustration by participating in the viral campaign, “Make Instagram Instagram Again.” The reality TV stars each shared a quote graphic created by influencer Tatiana Bruening on Wednesday. The post read in part: “Stop trying to be TikTok. I just want to see cute photos of my friends. Sincerely, Everyone.”
In order to keep up with changing user preferences, the platform will temporarily reduce the amount of recommended content on feeds while maintaining its push for video content.
“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,” Mosseri told reporter Casey Newton. “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.”