15 Reasons Why Instagram Totally Won 2016

2016 has been a prolific year for social media. The leading platforms now count hundreds of millions of users, sometimes billions even. We have seen more new features being launched this year than over the last 2 years. Live video is now a thing across platforms. But overall, it’s Instagram who won 2016. 

Remember Instagram before 2016? Well, it was a cool little social sharing app where people would publish nice pictures, add some filters and wait for others to engage with them. Don’t get me wrong, I always loved Instagram, right from the very first day. But 2016 was a HUGE year for Instagram, and it changed the platform forever.

Here is a quick recap of what happened (in almost chronological order):

1. Switch Between Accounts

Probably one of the most wanted feature, Instagram finally started to let us switch between accounts without having to logout and log back in.

2. Video View Counts

Just a few days after finally rolling out multiple accounts support, Instagram added on another feature that marketers have sought for a while now: video view count.

3. The End Of The Chronological Timeline

Even if this wasn’t welcomed by users at first, the end of the chronological timeline on Instagram was actually a good thing. The new algorithm meant users would see more of what Instagram believed they would care about. A few months down the line, I must admit it works.

4. Share 60 Seconds Video

Video was always going to be the star on Instagram. And the platform started to allow users to share longer videos, of up to 60 seconds.

5. A New Logo And A New UI

While this might not have impacted the platform UX directly, the new logo was the talk of the town for a few days, helping rising awareness of the platform even more.

The new monochromatic UI was a consequence of the new colourful logo. But it also made our pictures look even better within the app.

6. Business Profiles

Businesses could start having special accounts that are different from the regular user accounts, by adding a bit of extra spice to their profile. Things like a contact button for example, and …

7. Analytics, Finally!

It was a long expected feature too! And one marketers needed to really start investing on the platform: analytics. To this day, there still only available with a Business profile.

8. The Game Changer: Instagram Stories

This is the day when everything changed for Instagram (and when Snapchat took its first punch in the face): Instagram launched Stories.

9. Zoom!

Yet another feature most users had been longing for: Instagram rolls out “pinch to zoom” and image details suddenly made sense.

10. Save Drafts

Instagram Save Draft allows you to save all changes and edits you have made to your pictures, including captions and location details, without having to go through the process again.

11. Shop Now: Instagram Commerce Starts

Only a test with selected brands for the moment still but potentially a massive industry revolution. As the leading platform for fashion and setting visual trends, Instagram is looking into transforming itself in a veritable shopping platform with Shop Now links.

12. Go Live

Joining in the trend, Instagram announces it will have its own Live video feature. The company also takes this opportunity to launch Snapchat-like disappearing messages.

13. Comment Moderation

Having faced a few controversies, Instagram makes the move and introduces a new way to moderate, block or Like comments on its platform.

14. Save It (For Later)

Ever since Instagram moved away from the chronological timeline, sometimes it can be difficult to find a post you liked. Well, now you can save posts you would like to revisit later.

15. Stickers And The Final Hit On Snapchat

To conclude a year where Instagram never really stopped “stealing” features from Snapchat, the platform adds stickers and a new hands-free video mode. This could be the final hit. 2017 will tell.

Do you agree that 2016 was the year of Instagram? How do you see the platform growing in 2017?

[wysija_form id=”5″]

More from Experts Talk

100k Of The Most-Used (And Hacked) Passwords Published

Posted On April 22, 2019 George Carey-Simos 0

The UK's NCSC has published a global password risk list containing 100,000 of the most commonly re-occurring passwords that are …

The Top 5 Social Media Stories Of This Week

Posted On April 20, 2019 Geoff Desreumaux 0

Welcome to this week's top social media stories! Twttr happens to be very popular, Skype brings screen sharing to mobile …

12 Questions With Rebecca Canvin

Posted On April 17, 2019 Linleigh Marie Master 0

Please welcome this week’s 12 Questions Expert Spotlight guest, the Social Media Director at Ogilvy Health UK, Rebecca Canvin. 

Editor Picks

CALM Reflects Helpline Calls In ‘Ringing’ Street Displays

April 22, 2019 0

Arby’s Sends 10 Lucky Sandwich Lovers For A One-Day, $6 Trip To Hawaii

April 22, 2019 0

This Week: The 10 Most Talked About TV Ads On Social

April 20, 2019 0

David Beckham ‘Speaks’ Nine Languages In New Malaria Campaign

April 16, 2019 0