Instagram is a platform that constantly experiments with new features to help users get the most out of it. More recently, the social media app added the capability to add 20 posts and a video in a post. Now, it looks like Instagram is testing out a vertical profile grid.
Instagram is testing a vertical profile grid to allow rectangular image and video uploads
Adam Mosseri, Head of Instagram, recently took to his Instagram story to reveal the testing of the vertical grid for users’ profiles. When the update rolls out to the masses, you’ll be able to upload rectangular images to your Instagram profile instead of square images.
Mosseri goes on to explain further why the platform is opting for the new vertical grid. He adds that the original square grid back was initially designed to allow users to only upload square images. Since the majority of the Instagram uploads are mostly vertical, there was a need for a vertical grid.
He also feels that cropping the vertical 4 x 3 images and 9 x 16 videos down to square is “pretty brutal.” That’s true in some sense. Cropping beautiful vertically shot photos or videos to fit into the present square grid has always been painful for users.
If you are curious to know what the new vertical post grid would look like on Instagram, check the present video tab, you’ll get an idea of it. Some users even spotted and posted screenshots of the experimental vertical grid. The only change is that the new grid not only supports vertical videos but also allows vertical image uploads.
Instagram has been working on the rectangular layout for a few years now
In a statement given to The Verge, Instagram spokesperson Christine Pai explained the availability of Instagram’s vertical grid. She said “We’re testing a vertical profile grid with a small number of people. This is a limited test, and we’ll be listening to feedback from the community before rolling anything out further.”
If we consider an old post from reverse engineer Alessandro Paluzzi, Instagram has been working on the vertical grid layout since 2022. Now, it seems the experimental feature is rolling out to more users as part of the test.
Let’s not forget that Mosseri’s Instagram story was a response to a comment submitted by a user who requested the platform not to remove the old layout. So, it won’t be wrong to say that not many of them are happy about the new change. Time will tell when Instagram rolls out the vertical grid for all users.
