Instagram Reaches 3 Billion Monthly Users — Reels Push & Navigation Redesign

Instagram has reached a major milestone: 3 billion monthly active users, up from 2 billion in 2022, announced by Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg. At the same time, Meta is making Reels a more central part of the app with a redesigned navigation bar that highlights private messaging and Reels, and tests to make Reels the default feed in South Korea and India.

Key points

• 3 billion monthly users (Zuckerberg announcement).
• Nav redesign to emphasize private messaging & Reels.
• Tests to set Reels as the default feed in South Korea and India.
• Context: Meta reported 3.48 billion daily active people across Facebook, WhatsApp and Messenger last quarter; competition with TikTok remains a core factor.

Why it matters

Making Reels more prominent signals Meta’s continued focus on short-form video, aiming to keep users engaged and compete with TikTok. Navigation and default-feed changes can shift user behavior and increase views for Reels, affecting creators and advertisers.

Sources

• Mark Zuckerberg announcement (Threads): Zuckerberg on Threads
• Context & stats: Statista — social networks ranked by users
• News roundup: Slashdot report on milestone

What do you think — smart strategy to beat TikTok or just copying a rival? Leave your thoughts below.