Seems that Twitter isn’t the only one that’s due for a UI update. Word around the street is that Instagram is also planning to spice up its UI by introducing a few minor tweaks to the app layout, as well as the placement of the function buttons on-screen. 

Secret’s Out

Based on an image that was uploaded way back in February, the navigation bar at the bottom of the app will now be outfitted with a shortcut for creating content in the middle, as opposed to the current Reels shortcut. The Reels button will, as a result. Shift to the right, while the Shop’s tab that currently occupies that spot will disappear.

In a way, this is another concession that shopping on Instagram isn’t quite taking off as much as Instagram would have hoped. However, Instagram does note that it will still support its shopping tools even after this update drops. According to Instagram: 

“You’ll still be able to set up and run your shop on Instagram as we continue to invest in shopping experiences that provide the most value for people and businesses across feed, stories, reels, ads, and more.”

In the wake of COVID lockdowns, which did greatly augment the adoption of online shopping, many had expected a new-found enthusiasm for buying online to continue, with most social apps looking to ramp up their in-stream shopping efforts to align with this shift. However, once physical stores began re-opening, shopping behavior largely reverted to the norm – this is worth noting because physical stores continue to see online shopping activity steadily rising over time.

Meta conceded that it over-estimated its growth potential in this respect, which is the same reason it had to cut 11,000 jobs last November. Many of these roles were linked back to its expanded online shopping push, and with live-stream commerce and its other initiatives failing to gain traction, Meta has now stepped back from online shopping being a key element in its growth strategy. That being said, Instagram still hopes that in-stream shopping will become a thing. 

In China, live shopping has become its own industry, with predictions that live shopping revenues exceeded $400 billion last year, which is equivalent to nearly half of all eCommerce spending in the US. It’s also been observed that live shopping has become a more popular option among younger users, with Chinese users aged 27 and under seeing the fastest adoption rate. 

The Wrap

If live shopping grows beyond Eastern markets, then Instagram might yet be able to enjoy what it’s hoping would blow up – in-app shopping. Instagram’s keeping the door open and it may be that live shopping does become a more prominent trend in Western markets. Interest is there, it’s just not at the level that would help platforms lead a new charge into digital commerce just yet. At this point, clinging to the option is very much a long-term investment. 

Sources 

https://bit.ly/3GvseNs