Instagram Updates & New Features for 2025 – All You Need To Know

As we kick start this year the most prominent social media player with over 2.3 billion users worldwide, Instagram Introduces a new series of new features & updates.

If you’re a marketer, grab a pen cause here are some fresh updates you shouldn’t be missing out. This blog post covers all the necessary features to help you plan your Instagram strategy easily. 

Biggest Instagram updates in 2025 

Instgaram trail reels

Many creators on Instagram invest a lot of time and energy in creating content while understanding the efforts Instagram introduces a whole new feature of trail reels where you can try your reel on non-followers. 

Trail reels on Instagram allow creators to experiment with new ideas and get feedback by allowing them to share reels with non-followers. You’ll start seeing insights within 24 hours about how your content is performing. It won’t appear in your follower’s feed only you will know it is a trail reel that won’t appear in your feed unless you later decide to share it with everyone.

Note: select creator’s accounts without a professional account may have access to trial reels as a part of testing.

New dedicated tab for story highlights

The social media platform removed the story highlight bubble from the feed and plans to create a new dedicated tab for story highlights.

Though exactly where it will appear in the main grid is not clear. But an app researcher Alessandro Paluzzi shared an example of the new profile grid display.  

Instagram removes the option to follow the hashtag 

Instagram is removing the ability to follow hashtags to avoid spam. Users will no longer see the post from the following hashtag in their feeds. While hashtags will still help with the discovery, Users still can use hashtags in their posts and search for a hashtag to discover related pages. 

Instagram blocks screenshots 

Instagram makes big changes for teen safety. Now people won’t be able to take screenshots of photos and videos that are meant to disappear after viewing once. Before Instagram will notify the sender before you take a screenshot. But now you can’t save images or take screenshots sent as “view once”. 

Meta-verified users on Instagram gain clickable links – with a pricing twist 

Meta-verified account’s latest feature allows you to add links in the bio by attaching images to each of the links which appear as a banner on top of their links preview. This feature helps meta-verified users showcase links in a more attractive and engaging to their audience. 

You can now add notes to posts or reels on Instagram 

Instagram has now launched its new version of its notes messaging features. Where users can now add notes to their ree, providing another way to interact with friends.

We have got you covered with all the new updates and features, you can now optimize and engage with your audience easily through this blog.