Everything That Changed on Instagram This Month

The September '24 Recap | Here's what you need to know!

It’s the last day of the month, and you know what that means. It’s time for our reader-favorite post: the Grid Report IRL.

In this monthly round-up, I highlight everything that’s changed on Instagram so you don’t miss out on the most important developments. Some months bring huge changes; some months, not so much. But either way, this will help you keep your finger on the pulse of what’s new, improved, and different on our favorite platform.

Here’s the BIGGEST change that happened in September:

1. Meta rolled out AI Updates. Love it or hate it, AI is here to stay. Among other capabilities, you can now use AI inside the app to edit/change your photos before posting. Hate your photo’s backdrop? Meta can change it for you. (Check out more examples of the technology here!)

Less exciting updates:

1. Comments are now allowed on Stories (and everyone can see them). Kind of boring, but it’s another way to increase engagement in-app.

2. Instagram introduced Teen Accounts. Not necessarily a huge impact on marketing (unless your target audience is teenagers) but it’s fascinating as a parent. From now on, everyone under the age of 16 will have stronger restrictions around privacy, content they’re shown, messaging capabilities, and time spent on the app. Read more about the changes here.

3. Meta released its Holiday Performance Playbook. Definitely worth a read, especially if you’re thinking of running ads this fall.

…and that’s what you missed this month on Instagram. Let me know how and if you’ve leveraged the AI feature — I’m curious to see whether it will change the way we interact with the app or if we’ll tend toward leaving these capabilities untouched.

Sound off in the comments!

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This week: what would land you in jail, the few things better than a hug, and the one thing you just will not stand for.

HOP ON THESE TRENDS:

If I was your Instagram strategist, here are 3 Reels I’d encourage you to recreate for your brand: