Instagram Hits 3 Billion Monthly Users

Instagram has officially reached3 billionmonthly active users, a significant milestone confirmed by Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

This achievement comes nearlyfour yearsafter the platform first reported2 billionmonthly users inDecember 2021, bringing Instagram into closer alignment with other major Meta platforms. Earlier this year, Zuckerberg also announced that Facebook had surpassed3 billionusers inJanuary, with WhatsApp reaching the same figure inApril.

In light of this impressive growth, Meta has been asked whether this new Instagram user count includes individuals utilizing its X-rival, Threads. Threads, which launched inJuly 2023, mandates an Instagram or Facebook account for sign-up.

To further drive growth, Meta is now actively exploring and testing changes for its Direct Messages (DMs) and Reels features. According to aBloomberg report, private messaging functionalities and the popular Reels short-form video feature are identified as Instagram's primary growth engines. These areas are now central to the platform's upcoming development efforts.

Instagram head Adam Mosseri informedBloombergabout impending updates. These include plans to make DMs and Reels more prominently accessible on the app's home screen navigation bar. Furthermore, an algorithm enhancement will empower users to have greater influence over the topics that appear more or less frequently in their Instagram and Reels feeds.

Capitalizing on India's ban of TikTok, Instagram is also slated to conduct trials inIndiaandSouth Korea. These tests will involve defaulting users to Reels immediately upon opening the application, strategically leveraging regional market dynamics.