Instagram Rolls Out Dedicated Tab for Story Highlights

Instagram is updating profiles by moving Stories Highlights to a dedicated tab. Previously, these highlights appeared as circular icons above the profile grid, which is a key part of the platform's profile layouts. Now, they will reside in a separate "Highlights" tab, marked by a heart-shaped icon.

This update, introduced as part of Instagram's efforts to improve user experience, began rolling out in late 2024 and is expected to be fully available to all users worldwide by early 2025. According to Adam Mosseri, this change reflects the platform's focus on simplifying profile design while maintaining functionality.

Key Changes to Instagram Story Highlights

• Separate Location: Highlights will no longer occupy space above the profile grid but will have their own tab within the profile.
• Vertical Thumbnail Display: Highlights will be shown as vertically aligned thumbnails, making navigation by category or topic easier.
• Grid Integration: Highlights will still appear in the profile grid. However, Instagram hasn't specified how they will be sorted.

Why Is Instagram Changing Story Highlights Placement?

Instagram head Adam Mosseri explained the reasoning behind the update:

"We’re trying to figure out a way to improve the profile and get more of the content above the fold, and simplify it. You will still have control, you can still pin things, there’ll be a dedicated Highlights tab, but we don’t need to have pogs and squares and have it be all complicated and pushing everything down."

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This change aligns with Instagram's goal of creating a cleaner, less cluttered profile design while maintaining functionality for Instagram Story Highlights.

How Will This Instagram Update Affect Users?

• Streamlined Profiles: By moving highlights to a separate tab, profiles will appear less crowded and more organized.
• Reduced Visibility for Highlights: Highlights in a dedicated tab might see fewer clicks compared to their previous placement above the grid. Instagram seems to be prioritizing a cleaner design over heavy interaction with highlights.
• Focus on Stories as Ephemeral Content: The change may reflect a belief that archived Stories lose relevance over time, and this update better aligns with Instagram's evolving content strategy.

What You Need to Know About Instagram's New Layout

This update, first tested in August 2024, is now being rolled out to users in phases. Key details include:

• Users will receive notifications about the change and instructions on accessing their Story Highlights in the new tab.
• Story Highlights will remain customizable and pinnable, allowing users to retain control over how their content is displayed.

How This Change Impacts Instagram Engagement

• For Creators and Businesses: Moving highlights to a tab could reduce engagement, as fewer users may explore this section. Creators might need to rely more on other profile elements to drive interaction.
• For Casual Users: The simplified design makes personal profiles cleaner, focusing attention on the grid rather than archived Stories.

Instagram's Cleaner Profile Design

Instagram's decision to relocate Story Highlights to a dedicated tab reflects its commitment to simplifying profiles and prioritizing current content. While the update may reduce engagement with highlights, it aligns with the platform's ongoing evolution toward a more user-friendly design.