Various apps have started incorporating shopping features to promote e-commerce for their company. TikTok even offers sales from retailers who could collaborate with creators. You can purchase the items directly within the app; plus it's free shipping.
Instagram did this beforehand in July 2020 by adding a shopping tab on its main feed, but just recently, the shopping tab at the navigation bar has been replaced with a notifications tab.
According to a statement from Meta spokesperson Anne Yeh in an article from The Verge, they aim to "simplify your Instagram experience" by testing a few changes in the navigation bar.
They will be focusing their e-commerce efforts more on advertising, which will show how Meta Platforms will start focusing on its short-form video business.
Will Shopping Be Removed From Instagram Completely?
They will not remove it completely. One of the tests is adding a simpler and less personalized version of their shopping page called "Tab Lite," according to a memo that The Information has seen.
Instagram also has plans to remove the button that directs its users to the existing shopping tab by March of 2023.
It's been established that people sometimes scan through their Instagram feed to look for items worth buying, especially in the fashion area, so it's comforting to know that they will "remain committed to the goal of making Instagram the best place for people to discover and buy products they love" as said by their spokesperson.
Creators and/or influencers have gathered many adoring followers solely for being role models in terms of fashion sense, and it would be a shame to see that possible resource go to waste.
What's the Reason Behind The Change?
Business Insider mentioned that Instagram is pulling away from shopping because of the lack of sales and overall interactions across Meta's platforms. They will be setting aside a number of commerce features which include Meta's investment in "creator commerce" within its Instagram shopping, its "Friends and Family" section, and visual search.
Other sources like SocialMediaToday seem to think they are scaling back simply because, despite the shopping feature being added to make the platform more addictive, people don't care about the shopping features as much.
Due to COVID-19 lockdowns, e-shopping was all the rage, but now that stores are opening again, the trend seems to have died down.
Possible Alternatives for Shops on Instagram
People have been selling products on Instagram long before the shopping tab was added by Meta Platforms. If you happen to plan on selling or continue doing so in the app, yet you don't like the new Tab Lite system they have yet to release, you can always revert back to the old selling procedures.
Sellers who have been doing business on Instagram since it was all about photo updates of whatever was going on with everyone used to make it work. All they did was add a link to their shop in their bio and mention in their caption where to find it.
You can even add the direct link of the specific item in the caption so buyers wouldn't need to go to your profile or search for it in your shop.
