Instagram drops the IGTV shortcut button from the main app

Instagram has decided to get away with IGTV button that was visible at top right corner of Facebook-owned photo and video-sharing platform. Instagram has dropped IGTV button from its Android and iOS apps, a move that leaves Instagram users wondering about existence of ‘IGTV’ button on main app in first place.

First reported by TechCrunch, company apparently aims to build a cleaner app interface for users. More details awaited wher Instagram is looking to ditch IGTV app completely.

IGTV Button

You must have come across IGTV button on main Instagram app home tab at least once, though option is longer visible. IGTV app has always been confusing entity owned by Instagram, with clear goal or purpose communicated to users -- and more than anything, it’s execution of a strategy that leaves users wondering about its purpose and accessibility in first place.

IGTV debuted as stand-alone content platform by Instagram to host long-form videos. However, since it did t get much traction, Instagram merged two entities to some extent to show IGTV video previews in home feed on Instagram. This way, Instagram became even more cluttered with more IGTV previews dropping in home feed.

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Instagram started providing users with a dedicated shortcut button on upper right corner of Instagram app. Last year, Instagram anunced its decision to push out IGTV previews in main Instagram feed. As a result, users started to tice relatively more clutter on ir feed.

In past, IGTV has undergone a design overhaul and significant changes in terms of ways people discover new videos on platform, similar to TikTok's AI algorithm and Snapchat's 2x grid interface. It will be interesting to watch how Instagram actually evolves from here.

Instagram allows users to share videos on ir profiles. However, Instagram videos can only be 3 to 60 seconds long. That's why Instagram anunced IGTV in 2018 to attract creators with long-form videos.