Instagram Update 2025: Top 10 New Features

Of all the platforms we are used to using, there's always an update around the corner and Instagram is no exception. The Meta platform entered 2025 with the clear intention of diversify both creators and targets and promote authenticity. This is clear from the innovations it has introduced in the first two months of the new year and from the latest updates in 2024. Updates that as a whole are expanding the experience on the platform, opening it up to new uses and functions, which yet should not completely upset habits.

After all, following the updates is now a common practice for those who deal with the Social.

So let’s take an initial look at the updates that Instagram will continue to make throughout 2025, looking at the top 10 most significant new features.

1) Instagram Algorithm Update 2025

Let's start from the first and biggest intervention that the platform made at the beginning of the year: the update of its algorithmApparently Instagram wants encourage the creation of authentic and original content, penalizing deceptive strategies and forced virality. This means that Instagram's algorithm should:

• give more prominence to comments deemed human and significant.
• avoid the spread of recycled or artificially engaged content.
• reduce the visibility of posts that use excessive calls-to-action.
• penalize Reels created solely to gain quick views, with no real value to users.

Instagram's strategy behind this update seems clear, while Meta has chosen to eliminate third-party fact-checking, at least for now, in the United States. That the meeting point between these two choices – although taken for different reasons – is that of leave everything in the hands of the users as much as possible? Can algorithmic updates alone really help what they promote?

We will only need to watch our feeds over the next few months and share our experiences to get a clear idea beyond the speculation.

In the meantime, let's look at the other new features, which in part appear to us as the concretization of some of the intentions declared through the algorithm update.

2) Removing third-party beauty filters

From the 14 January 2025, Instagram has officially removed all third-party beauty filters, shutting down the Meta Spark platform. This decision seems right in line with the promotion of authenticity made clear in Instagram's 2025 algorithm update. Of course, Meta's official AR effects remain available, but it will no longer be possible to access filters that simulate makeup, retouch the skin or alter the structure of the face.

A choice that naturally divides those who use filters creatively and those who instead have at heart the fight against the unrealistic beauty standards that the media have always proposed in various forms, especially social media: e which side are you on?

3) Reels up to 3 minutes

This change doubles the possibilities for those who want to disseminate in a more structured way.

The main goal, according to Adam Mosseri (CEO Instagram), is to offer more space and freedom for creators, so that they can express more complex narratives. A choice that makes the platform more competitive, especially with respect to YouTube.

A choice that not only diversify creators and targets, but which also divides users' opinions…

4) Instagram update changes the format of post previews

Instagram officially abandons the classic square format for post previews, adopting the layout 4:5 (vertical rectangular). This change (on the line of TikTok), further devotes Instagram to mobile use.

This is not a given, since the platform is also available on desktop and several users use it in combination with mobile. This change also divides users, because on the one hand the new format allows for better viewing on the smartphone screen, enhancing the images and making the feed more immersive... too bad that, for now, It seems that the previews of old posts are automatically cropped.

Then a keep an eye on your feed, you will probably have to re-adapt the post previews.

5) Public comments and zoom in Stories

Instagram has also updated itself on the Stories front, a very important means to expand and diversify one's strategy. communication on social media.

With the first update, Now you can comment directly on Stories in a way that is visible to everyone, creating another layer of shared interactions. However, for privacy reasons, Comments are only enabled if both users follow each other. So it remains a form of communication – yes, expanded – but relatively restricted.

The second update instead concerns the possibility of enlarge the contents of the Stories. Zoom that on paper allows our users to observe details without losing quality: could this be the opening to new engagement tricks?

6) WhatsApp Business Sticker

Now there's a new one sticker for the Stories that allows you to Redirect users directly to WhatsApp Business. Thanks to this update, you can start a chat on WhatsApp by tapping the sticker, without having to manually search for the business phone number.

Choice that opens Meta to further integrate its platforms.

7) Reorganize your profile feed

Speaking of feeds, Instagram has started testing a feature that allows users to rearrange the order of posts in your profile feed. If you are cheering it is normal: this is perhaps the most requested update by anyone using Instagram. The advantages in terms of organization, time saving and building communication strategies are many and are clear to everyone.

It's a shame that this feature hasn't been officially implemented yet.

But in the coming months we can expect at least an expansion of the testing of this feature, which everyone has wanted or at least thought about at one time (whoever says no is lying).

8) Real-time geolocation sharing

This is a bold test by Instagram, especially in Europe where the personal data privacy is more strictly regulated than the United States (see the GDPR European compared to the CCAC (American). However, it seems that Location sharing will only be with friends, family or selected customers for a maximum period of 60 minutes and which, according to Instagram, should encourage live meetings and platform integration.

9) Resetting recommendations

This feature allows users to reset suggested content in sections Explore, Reels and in feed. There is a clear opportunity to re-customize the experience on the platform, so as to have a significant new control over what you see: Do you want to find out how to do it?

10) New video editing apps: Edits and Movie Gen

Instagram has announced the Edits launch for March 13, 2025: we are talking about a new video editing application which offers a suite complete with new tools that make the platform more competitive than CapCut and Adobe Premiere Rush. These are the functions it should have:

1. Video recording up to 10 minutes.
2. Saving drafts.
3. Frame-accurate editing.
4. Advanced camera settings (such as adjusting resolution, frame rate and more…).
5. Animating Static Images Using AI.
6. Green screen and video overlays.
7. Large selection of fonts, sound effects, video filters and stickers.
8. Improved audio (tools to clean the sound, remove background noise and improve the voice).
9. Automatic generation of captions and subtitles (which can however be modified).
10. “Inspirations” Card (audio tips and trends).
11. “Idea Tracker” Card (to jot down ideas and organize future projects).
12. Sharing drafts with friends and collaborators.
13. Dashboard with statistics on engagement and views.
14. Export and share without watermarks.

We close this list of the first Instagram updates of 2025 with a flourish. another novelty still in development: Movie Gen.

This function based on artificial intelligence will allow users to Edit videos through simple text prompts. A technology that will allow you to change elements such as backgrounds, clothes or scene details without the need for advanced editing software.

This also announcement was made by Adam Mosseri, but no official release date has been announced yet.

And what else does the Instagram 2025 update include?

The leaked news is not only what we wrote to you here. More is cooking, but we will talk about it in more depth in other articles after having checked and observed the other new features carefully.