Instagram has teased a home screen update that will remove the Shop option and launch in February, returning the Create button to the bottom navigation bar's center.
With this, the Shop tab will be replaced by the Reels tab, which is now prominently displayed on the navigation bar, The Verge writes.
The Shopping Feature Will Still Be There Only Not In The Home Page
Instagram's mobile app received new shopping features back in 2018 to enable users to purchase items they see in images and videos.
To better promote these features, the company even created a new Shop tab to the app's main page in 2020.
However, according to multiple sources, Instagram is already backing off and will soon remove the Shop page from its app.
Adam Mosseri, the social media's spokesperson, noted in a video that shopping will still be available in users' feeds, reels, stories, and ads.
It can be remembered that in order to stimulate buying outside of the typical mid-feed selections, the section typically provides tailored recommendations.
Mosseri described the makeover as an effort to streamline the service and put the emphasis on connecting individuals with their passions in a video announcing the rollout.
To put it simply, Instagram is remembering that it is a social network, but it can also be part of a larger change in strategy, Engadget says.
This is in accordance with a report from September that an internal memo indicates that the social media platform is cutting off its shopping features.
With this, The Information claims that the site would instead focus on commerce initiatives that are more closely related to ad income.
Simply said, it does not seem like the shopping drive has made a difference because if it had, Meta's financial situation would be better as it transitions to the metaverse.
Read More: Instagram Introduces a Refreshed Design for Web Version
This Move Follows Meta's Decision To Work With IRI To Integrate In-Store Data With Ads
By incorporating a technology from IRI, a sizable archive of product-level sales data from merchants, Meta is attempting to alleviate the company's marketing challenge.
The announcement aligns with retailers' own efforts to monetize their sales data through media networks that provide CPG and other marketers with advertising possibilities.
Given that its user growth is stagnant, it looks that Meta is attempting to strengthen the advertising capabilities on its key products with this cooperation.
In addition to this, the company sees it as a potential answer as it fails in its early attempts in the metaverse sphere, which it has identified as a key area for future growth.
This is the reason why live shopping on Instagram was recently discontinued in order to emphasize the Reels feature, Marketing Drive reports.
In general, social media advertising suffered a bit in 2018 but may make a comeback in 2023 as marketers try to control spending in the face of uncertain economic times.
Because of this, platforms put new offerings like Meta's partnership with IRI to curb the effects of such challenges to the social media giant.
Related Article: Instagram Introduces a Refreshed Design for Web Version
