Instagram story highlights have been a popular feature on the social media app since they were first introduced back in 2017. However, recent rumours online suggest that highlights will no longer be available, and that developers will be removing the feature soon. So, what’s the truth?
What is Instagram highlights?
Instagram highlights is a feature in the app that allows users to organise and save their favourite stories above their grid. It's a great way for users to showcase important content and keep past stories visible to their followers, creating good engagement.
Are Instagram highlights being removed?
In short, no. Rumours of highlights being removed started to pop up on TikTok and X back in November when Head of Instagram Adam Mosseri spoke about a potential change on his 'ask me anything' stories. Mosseri, who regularly responds to user suggestions for changes to the app, said that Instagram was conducting a test to move highlights and integrate them into the grid to create a more simplified profile.
So the feature is likely moving rather than being removed altogether, but this has been misinterpreted by some users, with posts across social media claiming that Instagram is deleting the feature. The rumour has continued to snowball with more and more speculation about the future of highlights popping up each day. Adam Mosseri reiterated that highlights are not being deleted in another ‘ask me anything’ posted on 26 January.
Why are highlights changing?
Instagram regularly introduces new features, with stories, reels and carousel posts being introduced in recent years, so changes to the platform are nothing new. It is hoped that the removal of the highlight circles from the top of the grid, and possibly moving them to a tab alongside the reels and grid tab, is going to create a cleaner interface, but the potential change has caused uproar online, with Mosseri admitting that "this one is contentious" and that he "might not be able to make it work".
When are highlights moving?
Testing for the new highlights feature began last year, with some users starting to see it on their grid already. Instagram hasn't confirmed a specific date for the change, however it is thought that it will happen sometime in early 2025. So whilst highlights could disappear in the format you might be used to, you can rest assured that they aren't being deleted permanently.
This article was published in January 2025.
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