Don’t Be A Square: Instagram Changes The Game

Instagram has just rolled out an update to phones that will allow users to post portrait and landscape photos and videos.

Yes, you can still upload square posts, as has been the app’s most iconic, Polaroid-aping feature.

But, as Instagram argues on their official blog, “the visual story you’re trying to tell should always come first, and we want to make it simple and fun for you to share moments just the way you want to.”

Turns out “nearly one in five photos or videos” being shared on Instagram aren’t in the square format; rather, people are editing them to fit that shape.

Here’s how the update works:

Take a photo. Tap the format icon to adjust the orientation (only if you don’t want it square). Once shared, your followers will see the full-sized image.

The question is, by moving away from the very feature that separated Instagram from the pack – or, at least, came to visually define it – will the Instagram feed soon become distilled by these different varieties of pictures? Will it suddenly lose what made it special?

Or, is this actually great?

Share your thoughts below.