by INTRODUCTION
Meta’s widely-used social media platform, Instagram, is currently experimenting with a fresh functionality known as ‘Ads Breaks.’ This innovative feature presents users with non-skippable advertisements, requiring them to view the entire ad before proceeding with their content browsing on the platform. Consequently, Instagram users will be compelled to watch the complete advertisement before being able to navigate further through their feeds.
A representative from Meta, as reported by TechCrunch, mentioned that
“We’re always testing formats that can drive value for advertisers. As we test and learn, we will provide updates should this test result in any formal product changes.”
Dan Levy, an Instagram user, recently took a screenshot of this particular feature and came across an ad that could not be skipped.
Holy moly! Meta seemingly is now forcing us to watch ads in our feeds on Instagram!
The app legit stopped me from scrolling past this ad which is just a bonkers move to me. pic.twitter.com/740EXjGyl2
— Dan Levy ✡ דניאל לוי (@TheDanLevy) June 1, 2024
In recent days, several Instagram users, including @TheDanLevy, have expressed their shock and dismay by sharing screenshots of a pop-up notification labelled ‘Ad break’ accompanied by a countdown timer. Unlike the usual advertisements on Instagram that can be easily scrolled or swiped past, these particular ads require users to patiently wait until they are finished before proceeding with their browsing activities.
Instagram has recently displayed sponsored posts and advertisements in users’ feeds, strategically placing them between various posts as users scroll through their feed. However, this decision to include unskippable content in between posts has sparked frustration among many Instagram users. While this move may result in higher revenue and value for advertisers, it also compromises the overall usability and user experience of the app.
CONCLUSION
In 2024, Instagram implemented numerous updates to enhance user experience and engagement on the platform. These updates include the introduction of Instagram Reveals, significant modifications to direct messages (DMs), and a shift towards prioritizing Reels and recommendations over traditional photo posts. This strategic move aims to captivate the younger demographic and stay competitive with TikTok, a popular social media platform among the youth.
Additionally, Meta, the parent company of Instagram, has incorporated user-friendly features such as the option for individuals to choose whether their posts can be utilized for training artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms, demonstrating a commitment to user privacy and control over their data.
