Instagram Mix‑Up: A Feed Fiasco That Left Users Confused
Yesterday, Instagram rolled out a fix for a glitch that had suddenly turned the feed into a sideways scrolling surprise.
How it Happened
- The bug was part of a tiny test – a “what‑if” experiment meant to see if a new swipe‑and‑tap pattern would make people discover posts more easily.
- Unfortunately, the code got leaked to most accounts, turning the regular vertical feed into a mini Stories‑style swipe experience.
- Users expected their usual scrolling but instead had to slide left or right to see new content.
The Twitter Outrage
While scrolling through #Instagram, folks exploded on Twitter.
- One user called it “so trasher than the Snapchat redesign.”
- Another joke went “did this come with a free Spotify playlist?”
Comparisons to Snapchat‘s unpopular overhaul – which has been criticized for being too tricky – only fueled the fire.
Snapchat’s Struggle
Last year, Snapchat tried a brand‑new look. While hoping it would bring in fresh users, the design ended up being a maze: people couldn’t find posts, features were hidden, and overall confusion ran high.
Instagram’s Quick Response
Head Adam Mosseri quickly posted an apology:
“That was supposed to be a very small test that went broad by accident. We quickly fixed the issue and the feed is back to normal.”
Instagram’s official statement confirmed that the glitch was patched that same day, returning the feed to its classic vertical scroll.
Takeaway
In the world of endless scrolls and wild updates, even a tiny misstep can explode into a frenzy on social media. One takeaway? Fast fixes and a clear apology go a long way when the algorithm goes sideways.
