Instagram tests Reels-first redesign with DMs at center

Instagram is testing a redesign that would make short-form video and private messaging the most prominent features in the app, opening directly to Reels for some users in India and South Korea and relocating direct messages to the center of the bottom navigation bar, the company said. The move, announced this week by Instagram executives, is being trialed with a limited group of users and could be rolled out more broadly if tests go well.

The changes reflect a shift in how people use the app, Instagram and parent company Meta said. The platform said it now has more than 3 billion monthly active users and that short videos and private messages are driving much of its growth. Reels are reshared across Meta platforms about 4.5 billion times daily, the company said, and messaging has become the most popular way to share photos and videos on Instagram.

Under one test, users who opt in in India will see the Reels tab by default when they open the app rather than the traditional photo feed. Stories will remain at the top of the screen, but the main scroll will lead with full-screen short videos. A similar Reels-first design already appears in the new iPad app. Another change being...