Instagram is facing backlash for adopting new features similar to TikTok. Some of the changes that drew criticism from users included promoting a short-form video, displaying it full-screen like TikTok, and recommending posts from strangers.
Following user backlash for losing its originality, social networking platform Instagram has decided to discontinue its Tik-Tok-like features.
In the race for more views, the photo and video sharing social networking service have been constantly trying to outpace its competitor TikTok. The efforts are primarily the result of its parent company Meta’s efforts to change the Instagram and YouTube interfaces so that users can watch videos and photos in a manner similar to its rival TikTok.
Some of the changes that drew criticism from users included promoting a short-form video, displaying it full-screen like TikTok, and recommending posts from strangers.
However, Instagram’s strategy does not sit well with its users, who have launched a campaign against the social networking service for becoming too similar to TikTok. As a result, according to a report in the Platformer tech newsletter on Thursday, it has decided to pause features that users have campaigned against.
Along with the general public, many international celebrities have joined the chorus of campaigners calling for an end to Instagram. Celebrity sisters Kim Kardashian and Kylie Jenner were among the most vocal users this week, posting messages on social media urging the company to “make Instagram Instagram again” and stop attempting to compete with TikTok. The slogan was inspired by a change.org petition that had over 229,000 signatures as of late Thursday.
“For Pete’s sake, let us go back to our roots with Instagram and remember that the intention behind Instagram was to share photos,” the petition read.
Instagram Chief Adam Mosseri responded to the controversy on Twitter earlier this week before deciding to pause the controversial features. Adam assured the public in a video posted on Twitter that the features are in the trial phase and are being tested with a small number of users to keep Instagram up to date.
“I’m glad we took a chance,” Mosseri said Thursday in an interview with Platformer Casey Newton.
“However, we do need to take a step back and regroup.” “If we don’t fail once in a while, we’re not thinking big or bold enough,” Mosseri said.
Mosseri argued that even if the service did not change, the shift to more video would occur because users increasingly share and seek video snippets.
“If you look at what people share on Instagram, you’ll notice that it’s shifting more and more to video over time, and we’ll have to embrace that shift.” Mosseri explained.
During an earnings call on Wednesday, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg backed up that claim, saying that people are increasingly watching videos online.
Both Meta and Google have launched their own versions of short-form video sharing in response to increased competition from TikTok for people’s attention.
