If you have scrolled through Instagram recently, you may have noticed that it is starting to look a lot like another popular social media app - TikTok. Instagram's latest update is making its main feed full screen and adding suggested posts on users' feeds. 

These changes have resulted in protest from many users, including celebrities like Kylie Jenner. She made a post to her 364 million followers asking Meta to bring back the old Instagram. Now the question that many people are asking is, why is Instagram starting to look like TikTok? Will it ever go back to the way it was before?

Our social media management Austin team has done some research on this topic and how you can ensure your business does not get left behind. 

Why is Instagram resembling TikTok?

One of the benefits of using Instagram marketing for small businesses is reaching your target audience. Every social media platform has a different audience and content style. Instagram was known as a photo-sharing platform and TikTok as a video-sharing platform. Now Instagram is shifting its priorities to video-based content. Here are some of the top reasons why Instagram is making this shift. 

People are spending more time on TikTok.

Currently, TikTok has one billion active users, and it was reported that TikTok was the internet’s most visited site in 2021. It even dethroned Google, which had consistently been the most visited website for years. 

The typical TikTok user spends an average of 95 minutes per day on the platform and opens the app eight times throughout the day. The more time people spend on TikTok, the less likely they are to open another app.

People love video content.

Why do people spend so much time on TikTok? The answer is simple. People love short video content. Other social media platforms have taken notice and started to incorporate short-video features. Large social media platforms such as Youtube, Instagram, Facebook and even Snapchat have added short-video features to their platforms. 

However, many people still primarily use TikTok as their source for video content. What makes people spend a lot of time on TikTok is the algorithm, entertainment and authenticity of it all. The content on TikTok isn’t as pristine or perfected as that of Instagram. It feels much more casual and relatable, which encourages users to keep coming back to it.

Ad spending has decreased.

Meta owns Facebook, Instagram and Whatsapp. It recently reported a steeper than expected drop in revenue. Its revenue was $28.82 billion compared to its expected $28.94 billion. This tech company blames Apple’s iOS privacy update because it limits Meta’s ability to track users, which caused many companies to limit their ad budgets. 

Will Instagram ever be the same?

Social media experts believe that Instagram will not return to being a photo app. In fact, users may only see videos in the future. So the best thing for businesses is to start creating video content with the help of a social media management Austin agency. Incorporating Reels into your existing social media marketing strategy will not only help you stay on top of the current trends but also generate more leads. Some video content ideas include: 

• Educational

• DIY

• Behind-the-scenes

• Interviews

Make the shift to video content with a social media management Austin company!

Do you need help creating videos and managing your social media content? Let OMG Austin lend you a helping hand. Our team can help grow your presence in the public eye by utilizing digital marketing strategies. Contact us to get started.