Meta Announces Instagram Milestone and New Features
Instagram has reached 3 billion monthly active users, as revealed by Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg on September 24, 2025. This achievement comes nearly four years after the platform hit the 2 billion monthly users mark in December 2021, signaling its continued growth in the competitive social media landscape, reports 24brussels.
Zuckerberg noted that Facebook surpassed 3 billion users in January 2025, followed by WhatsApp achieving the same milestone in April. The surge in Instagram’s user base highlights its growing importance within Meta’s portfolio and its capability to retain user engagement amid fierce competition.
In light of this growth, Meta is focusing on enhancing features such as Direct Messages (DMs) and Reels, which have been identified as key drivers of user engagement and retention. The company is planning to implement several updates to improve accessibility for these features, making them more prominent on the app’s home screen navigation bar.
Instagram head Adam Mosseri confirmed to Bloomberg that upcoming changes will include an algorithm update allowing users to tailor their content preferences more effectively, influencing the frequency of topics appearing in their feeds. Additionally, the platform will conduct tests in India and South Korea, defaulting users to Reels upon opening the app, a strategic move to capitalize on the recent TikTok ban in India.
The updates reflect Meta’s commitment to driving innovation on Instagram, as the company prepares for a more competitive landscape in the social media domain. The integration of video messaging and improved short-form content is expected to bolster Instagram’s appeal among its expansive user base.