Instagram tests Notes in feed posts to engage young people

December 21, 2023
According to a screenshot shared by app researcher Ahmed Ghanem, Instagram is internally testing the possibility of adding a note during the uploading process of a post. This note would provide an additional element of context to your posts. Viewers could then tap the profile bubble on a post to view that note, which could be another way to boost engagement on the app.
Young users like Notes
Notes have been particularly popular among young Instagram users, with teens creating Notes 10 times more often than other users of the app. And as Instagram is losing ground to TikTok among younger audiences, it is eager to target that engagement by embedding Notes in every surface possible.
Instagram ‘s goal is to keep the younger user group engaged, as they represent Meta’s best chance of maintaining a connection with the next generation of users. If all goes as planned, this next generation will also be the first generation of users in the metaverse, which is another reason why Meta needs to keep them close. Therefore, if something seems to resonate with younger groups, it will receive more attention.
At the moment, there is no news about launching this test to users.
Popularity of Notes among young Instagram users
Instagram has decided to take full advantage of Notes, a feature that has been very popular among the app’s young users. Compared to other users, teenagers create Notes 10 times more frequently. This shows how popular Notes are among this age group and why Instagram is trying to capitalize on them.
The addition of 2-second looping videos to Notes
To offer an additional engagement option, Instagram recently introduced 2-second looping videos within Notes. This allows users to have a more dynamic and engaging experience when interacting with Notes.
Instagram is testing the ability to add Notes to posts in the feed
Instagram is currently testing a new feature that would allow users to add Notes to their regular posts in the app’s feed. According to a screenshot shared by app researcher Ahmed Ghanem, this feature will be added during the process of uploading a post. Placing a note in the post would provide an additional layer of context and communication for users.
How adding Notes to feed posts would work
If this feature were implemented, users could add a note during the process of uploading a post to the Instagram feed. The note could be a short text or sentence that offers additional context or explanation for the post. Once the post is published, users could tap the profile bubble on that post to view the associated note.
The importance of younger user engagement for Instagram
Meta’s platform understands the importance of keeping younger users engaged, as they represent the next generation of users in the metaverse. With the growing popularity of TikTok among young people, Instagram is determined to strengthen engagement among its young users. Adding Notes to feed posts could be a way to incentivize participation and connection among younger users.
Instagram and its competition with TikTok
TikTok has increasingly gained popularity among young users, challenging Meta’s platform in the fight for the attention and engagement of younger audiences. Instagram is trying to counter this trend and maintain its position as the platform of choice for young people. Adding Notes to posts in the feed could be a strategy to attract the interest of younger users and give them one more reason to use Instagram.
The future of user engagement on Instagram
Instagram is committed to maintaining strong user engagement, especially among younger users. The engagement of younger users is crucial to the long-term success of Instagram and Meta as a company. With the transition to the metaverse, Meta needs to keep young users engaged to be relevant in the next digital age.