Instagram Replaces Iconic Square Grid with Vertical Layout, Prompting Backlash

The platform's shift to rectangular grids aims to accommodate vertical content but has drawn criticism from users for disrupting carefully curated profiles.

Instagram has introduced a new rectangular grid layout on profile pages, replacing the long-standing square grid format.
The update, rolling out this weekend, is designed to better display vertical photos and videos, which dominate uploads on the platform.
Head of Instagram Adam Mosseri acknowledged the change as a 'transitional pain' but argued it reduces the need for aggressive cropping of vertical content.
The move has sparked negative reactions from users, particularly creators and designers, who spent years curating square-format profiles.
Critics suggest the change aligns Instagram more closely with TikTok's vertical content style, fueling speculation about its competitive strategy.