Instagram is testing three layouts so don’t be surprised if your friend sees a different one

It looks like Instagram users in different parts of the world are seeing slightly different layouts of buttons inside the app. This doesn’t come from users themselves but from Instagram. The firm says it is working on adding dedicated tabs to its navigation bar for Reels and Shopping features. We recently saw Instagram rolling out dedicated Reels tab in the app’s bottom bar in India but there are three different ways in how it is positioned along with other buttons for profile, home, explore, adding a new post and more.

“We’re starting to test different versions of Instagram’s home screen – when you open the app you’ll soon see a Reels tab and a Shop tab in one of these three layouts,” said Instagram head, Adam Mosseri in a tweet. He added that there’s a reason behind this. It is to study how consumer use different products so it helps Instagram to adapt to it and stay relevant.

“These changes reflect shifts we’re seeing from people, both in how they use the product but also how they push culture forward on Instagram: rise of creators, explosion of video, acceleration of online shopping. We want to adapt to these shifts while keeping things simple,” Mosseri tweeted further.

In the image shared by him, the first layout shows buttons for home, reels, new post, shopping and profile at the bottom navigation bar with search, likes and direct messages button on the top right corner. The second layout has the home, search, reels, shopping and profile button at the bottom bar with likes and direct messages on the top corner. The third one has the home, search, reels, shopping, likes and profile buttons at the bottom and buttons for new post and direct message at the top corner.

The one in India right now is the first layout.