The feature has been tested in India and it's optional for now, but lines up with Meta's stated priorities.
Instagram Trial Layout Centered on Reels and DMs
Instagram is testing a new interface that puts Reels and Direct Messages (DMs) front and center. This experiment has been tested in India in earlier October and now, it's optional for users. This development was announced by the social media head Adam Mosseri on his Threads page . He explained that Instagram is running a trial where selected users can explore a redesigned menu bar featuring a new layout of tabs. In this test version, the navigation bar highlights two of Instagram’s most frequently used sections— Reels and DM —each getting its own dedicated tab for quicker access. Under the new layout, launching the app takes users directly into a Reels-style view. The tabs for Reels and DMs are placed first in the navigation bar. That's to say, if you opt-in to the test, the search and Reels tabs will exchange positions, while the create post button will be replaced with a DMs tab. Meta's test also makes it possible to swipe between tabs . However, it's important to note that…
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