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The New Instagram Grid: Game-changer or Gimmick?

Wednesday 5th February 2025

You’re on your lunch break taking a trip down memory lane on your Instagram profile when you notice something…well–different. That one selfie of you and your mom is cut off and you can only see half of your face, that graphic promoting an upcoming concert is now illegible, and that artsy series of photos no longer line up in that oh-so-satisfying way they used to. Enter in: the new vertical world. 

Instagram has decided to part ways with their classic square grid and move on towards a rectangular feed. 

The why:

  • Most users are scrolling on mobile, which is better suited for 9×16 reels and the new 4×5 photos.
  • Instagram representatives claim the new size is more dynamic since it takes up more space while scrolling!
  • Meta is constantly experimenting with ways to ride TikTok’s coattails, and modeling photos to mimic the sizing of reels and video is their current tactic.

Tips:

  • Remember to include a safe zone on each side of your asset.
  • When making reel covers, there’s a bit more space in your safe zone now compared to when we had square grids.
  • Be careful posting assets with words–we don’t know when this will change again!

We’d love to say that this is the only change you have to keep up with in the Instagram world at the moment, but that would be a huge lie. Be prepared for some other huge changes like a possible separate page for highlights. In general, it’s our job as digital marketers to be ahead of the curve and prepare our clients for these changes, so make sure you have a strategy on how to handle them. 
For more info and specifics on dimensions, click here! We know the digital world moves fast, with a lot of noise! If you need further help or consulting, please get in touch at [email protected]. We’ll be happy to connect!