Instagram continues to be problematic, now accessible on iPad

Instagram has taken a step back to the future with the launch of its long-awaited iPad app. The announcement has sparked feelings of wistfulness about the platform's glory days, when it was a popular photo app, competing with Hipstamatic for the best retro filters.

The new app, designed to optimize user experience on a bigger screen, has been a highly requested feature from users who repeatedly called for an Instagram app for drawing tablets. However, it was not available until this year.

In the mid-to-late 'teenies' (2015-2018), Instagram was a fun place to keep up with friends, relatives, and occasionally celebrities. But as the platform started incorporating social features, it began to decline as a photo-sharing platform.

Reels, Instagram's short-form video feature, was not yet a significant part of the platform during its glory days. However, the new iPad app features easier navigation and a layout that displays messages and notifications in separate tabs, making it easier to manage Reels and other content.

The new app also allows users to expand comments while watching reels without affecting the video's size, a feature that has been missing on the mobile version of the app. This change is aimed at improving the user experience and making it easier to engage with content.

However, the shift towards video and ads has made it increasingly difficult for artists to gain engagement on Instagram. Some creatives have expressed their disappointment with the platform's focus on short-form videos and ads, which they feel has made the platform less appealing.

In contrast, Substack, a platform for writers, has not been 'enshittified' yet, according to one writer. The writer prefers Substack over Instagram due to its lack of changes that have made Instagram less appealing.

WhatsApp, another popular app, also launched an iPad app this year, adding to the growing list of apps that are now available on tablets. The launch of Instagram's iPad app adds to the competition and may signal a shift in the platform's focus on mobile devices.

Despite the excitement surrounding the launch of the new app, there are no publicly available records or credible sources identifying the specific persons or groups involved in the development of the unreleased iPad version of Instagram between 2015 and 2018. This lack of transparency raises questions about the platform's decision-making process and commitment to its users.

Instagram's new iPad app is available now for download on the App Store. Whether it will be enough to bring back the platform's glory days remains to be seen, but for now, users can enjoy a more optimized experience on their tablets.