Instagram has recently introduced a new feature that stops users from scrolling for a brief period of time to watch an ad. This feature is being tested on some users and could potentially become a permanent addition to the app. Similar to YouTube, where users have to watch ads before watching videos, Instagram may now be following a similar strategy.
Users have noticed this new ad feature on Instagram when they see a small counter at the bottom of their screen that says “ad break” when scrolling through content. This suggests that users may need to view an ad before continuing to browse. The shift towards unskippable ads is a departure from Instagram’s previous format, where users could easily scroll past ads that appeared in their feed.
Instagram has been introducing new features like Reels, which recommend videos in a TikTok-style manner, in recent years. The app’s focus on short-form video content has led to less emphasis on traditional photo posts, although this change has received mixed reviews. Despite this, Instagram has seen growth and downloads surpassing those of TikTok in 2023.
As Instagram continues to evolve its platform, it will be interesting to see how users respond to these changes and whether the new ad feature will become a permanent fixture on the app. With Instagram taking cues from other social media platforms like YouTube and TikTok, users may need to adjust their browsing habits to accommodate these new ad formats.
