Top Instagram Updates for 2025 (That You Need to Know)

Instagram remains one of the most influential social media platforms as it constantly evolves to keep users engaged and creators thriving. With over a billion active users, it continues to be a powerhouse for influencers, brands and marketers looking to reach, engage and expand their audience.

As we move through 2025, Instagram has already rolled out several updates that could impact (and have already impacted) the way individuals and businesses use the platform. These updates are already reshaping content strategies and engagement levels, but knowing how to adapt your content to them isn’t always straightforward. 

We’ve put together this handy blog to highlight the biggest Instagram updates for 2025 so far and help brands, businesses and content creators navigate them with confidence.

Contents

• New Grid Size: The 3:4 Instagram Post
• Trial Reels: Test Content Without Followers Seeing It
• Commenting on Instagram Stories
• The 3-Minute Instagram Reel
• The Instagram Edits App Is Now Live 
• The Instagram Dislike Button
• Can You No Longer Follow Hashtags on Instagram?
• Instagram Story Highlights to Be Moved into the Grid Section?
• Customised Instagram Notes Colours
• How to Lock Instagram Reels with the New Feature 
• The Launching of ‘Storylines,’ IG’s New Story Collab Element
• The Instagram Blend Feature Has Been Officially Launched
• New Instagram DM Updates
• How to Easily Navigate the Biggest Instagram Updates for 2025

New Grid Size: The 3:4 Instagram Post

At the end of May, Instagram announced that it now supports the 3:4 post ratio. What motivated this decision is likely the fact that this is the native format for most phone cameras and the new ratio will now support a more accurate representation of users’ images without the need to stretch or crop them. Instagram announced this update on their Creators channel:

As you can see, users still have the option of sharing square (1:1) and 4:5 aspect ratio images, however introducing 3:4 simply offers more flexibility.

Trial Reels: Test Content Without Followers Seeing It

Perhaps one of the most exciting Instagram updates for 2025 is the new trial reel feature allowing users to post Reels that are only shown to non-followers. 

This feature was introduced as a content testing tool, helping creators experiment with new styles, formats or branding without their followers seeing unfinished ideas. Trial reels are a great way to test what engages users (short vs. long videos, polished vs. casual clips) without disrupting your feed.

What’s more, many are using the new trial reel feature as a free growth tool, repurposing their best-performing content to attract new audiences without overwhelming existing followers.

Commenting on Instagram Stories

Instagram has expanded its interactive features by allowing users to publicly comment on stories. While this feature started rolling out in 2024, it has become widely available to users in 2025. By default, only users the story creator follows can leave comments, but settings can be adjusted to allow all followers or disable comments entirely.

For brands and creators, commenting on Instagram stories presents a chance to boost real-time engagement by encouraging responses with prompts like questions, polls, calls for opinions, etc. However, it’s worth noting that story comments are limited to 60 characters.

The 3-Minute Instagram Reel

Having extended the maximum length of reels from 90 seconds to 3 minutes, Instagram is giving users more time to create engaging content. The 3-minute Instagram reel has made it easier to connect with audiences in a more immersive way and has opened up new possibilities for various content formats, including storytelling, tutorials and behind the scenes videos.

If you’re a creator or a small business owner, you can benefit from the longer format through more detailed product demonstrations, Q&A sessions, or mini-vlogs without having to worry about cutting your content short. While shorter videos still perform well for quick engagement, the option for extended content gives creators some refreshing flexibility to experiment.

The Instagram Edits App Is Now Live 

On April 22, Instagram officially launched Edits. It’s their new video editing app and has been interpreted as Instagram’s answer to CapCut, the editing app associated with TikTok. Similarly to TikTok, with the launch of this application Instagram is aiming to offer its users the opportunity to create polished, creative videos more quickly and easily. 

Since the initial launch, they’ve introduced various updates such as an AI feature that makes still images move, the option to replace backgrounds with green screen effects and cutout tools that can isolate various objects from photos.

The Instagram Dislike Button

Instagram has started testing out a new dislike button. The feature, at this point only rolled out to small groups of users, is only available on comments and not the actual content. There is no dislike count being shown and dislikes are not publicly visible, allowing users to privately express when they feel uncomfortable with a comment. According to a Threads post by Adam Mosseri, the feature will likely be integrated into comments ranking, pushing down ones that have been disliked in hopes to make the Instagram comment section a friendlier place. 

For creators, this can be a great way to filter out comments that are offensive or misleading and focus on relevant feedback. 

Can You No Longer Follow Hashtags on Instagram?

Instagram has removed the ability to follow hashtags, a change that was initially made live in December 2024. The aim of this update is to reduce spam and low-quality content that in the past would often surface through the excessive use of trending hashtags. 

Now that users can no longer follow hashtags, Instagram is attempting to shift its focus to a more personalised content discovery experience driven by its recommendation algorithms. It’s worth mentioning that users can still search for and browse hashtags on the Explore page.

Businesses who used to rely on Instagram hashtags for followers and to improve visibility need to adapt their strategies to maintain reach. If you find yourself in a similar situation, focus your efforts on high-quality content and audience interaction to stay visible in the feed. This could include responding to comments, posting engaging reels and using interactive story features.

Instagram Story Highlights to Be Moved into the Grid Section?

While this is not yet live for all users, Instagram has announced that story highlights may soon move to a dedicated tab instead of appearing as circular icons under your bio. 

This update aims to create a ‘decluttering’ effect on profiles and allow recent content to be prioritised, but it may make highlights less immediately visible. If your brand relies on Instagram story highlights, consider mentioning them more frequently in stories alongside clear CTA stickers directing followers to check your Highlights tab. 

Since this update is still in testing, we’ll have to wait and see if Instagram makes it permanent, but it’s worth keeping an eye on.

Customised Instagram Notes Colours

You may have noticed a pop-up on your account stating that you can now ‘Express yourself with a colorful note’. Indeed, some users can now customise their notes by adding a colour and an emoji. Note that the feature hasn’t been fully rolled out yet to all users and is still considered ‘under development.’ Here’s a preview of the feature, as shared by app researcher @varma.adwaith on Threads:

How to Lock Instagram Reels with the New Feature 

Instagram is testing out a new feature which allows users to hide their Reels behind a lock code, prompting viewers to ‘Enter secret code’ to view the content. The first official use of the feature was activated by The Weeknd, who posted a clip from his new film ‘Hurry Up Tomorrow’ that was locked behind a code. However, Instagram first teased the feature back in early April in its Design profile:

Are you already wondering how to lock Instagram reels yourself? Well, the new feature isn’t broadly available at this point, but if it does get officially launched, the way it will work is that users will have to share a reel, then add a secret code with a clue to unlock it. In this way they’ll be able to target specific audience segments. For example, if you’re promoting an exclusive event, you could share a reel only viewable by those who’ve purchased tickets and received the unique access code. 

The Launching of ‘Storylines,’ IG’s New Story Collab Element

Instagram is currently testing a new collaborative Stories feature called ‘Storyline’, designed to let users build shared narratives with their friends. If you and your friends are attending the same event, for example, you’ll be able to publish related Stories to a single, ongoing thread.

Only friends who follow each other will be able to link new stories to the original, but if you’re posting publicly, their followers will also be able to view the Storyline and potentially join in.

Instagram’s aim with this update is likely to turn Stories into a feature that’s more interactive and could increase engagement and exposure across users.

App researcher Alessandro Paluzzi posted an example of how the new Storyline feature works on Threads:

The Instagram Blend Feature Has Been Officially Launched

After over a year of testing, Instagram officially launched Blend in the beginning of April. This new feature allows users to create a feed of recommended Reels with another account or group chat. 

Once you create a Blend feed, this sends an invite to all members through DM. The reels that appear in the shared feed are then based on the content each of the members tends to interact with on Instagram. It’s essentially a blended feed of all the Reels you and your friends would be suggested individually.

This new feature is likely Instagram’s response to the rise of DM activity and sending Reels being the most common form of communication on the ap

Take a look at this Thread posted by Instagram to see how you can try out the new feature:

New Instagram DM Updates

After giving users the ability to schedule messages up to 29 days in advance at the end of last year, Instagram is continuing to pour energy into DMs in 2025. Some of the new Instagram DM updates include the ability to translate DMs by simply tapping and holding on a message, text transcription of voice messages and sharing music with friends.

Check out some of these new features as shared by Instagram:

DM Translations

How to Share Music on Instagram DM

How to Schedule a Message on Instagram

How to Easily Navigate the Biggest Instagram Updates for 2025

With Instagram rolling out constant updates, keeping up can feel overwhelming, especially trying to balance content creation, engagement and strategy. 

SEM Consultants can help – we are a leading social media agency in Birmingham and we help businesses navigate platforms such as Instagram with targeted, fully optimised content that aligns with the latest trends and algorithm changes. If you’re looking to optimise your social media strategy, increase engagement and reach new audiences, our expert team can make that difference for you.

If that sounds like something you’d be interested in, why not have a look at our social media services page to learn more about what we can do for your business? Alternatively, feel free to get in touch with us on 0121 552 6500 or drop us an email at enquiries@sem-consultants.co.uk with any questions you may have. Our team is happy to assist you!