Instagram has come under fire from creators after revealing that it lowers the quality of older, less popular videos. Adam Mosseri, the head of Instagram, explained that the platform prioritizes higher quality for videos that attract more views. This has left some creators feeling discouraged, especially those who have focused on making content specifically for Instagram.
One creator, Siete Savone, expressed her disappointment, saying it harms the quality of artistic work. She loves using Instagram but believes the platform should not compromise the quality of original content just to favor more popular creators. She pointed out that it’s unfair for creators to worry about their content being downgraded simply because it hasn’t gained traction yet.
Mosseri clarified that Instagram automatically lowers the quality of videos that haven’t been watched in a while, as most views happen soon after a video is posted. However, if a video starts to gain popularity, its quality can be improved again.
Social media expert Matt Navarra noted that this approach contradicts Instagram’s previous efforts to support new creators. He questioned how smaller creators can grow their audience if their content is penalized for being less popular. He and Savone both believe that all creators, regardless of their follower count, should have an equal opportunity to succeed.
The reasoning behind Instagram’s decision relates to the costs of streaming videos. Higher quality videos take up more storage space and require more computing power to process. While some users understand the need to save on storage costs, they feel it’s frustrating for creators who invest time in producing high-quality content only to see it downgraded.
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In the past, Instagram had promised to give all creators a fair chance to be seen, but Mosseri acknowledged that viewers often value the content of a video more than its quality. He encouraged creators to focus on making engaging content for their audience rather than worrying too much about potential quality reductions.
Mosseri emphasized that Instagram doesn’t lower or raise the quality of individual videos on a case-by-case basis; rather, it does so in a general way based on overall engagement levels. He believes the difference in quality isn’t significant and that the goal is to showcase the best content possible.
DANDALI has reached out to Instagram for more details. The platform has faced backlash in the past for its shifts towards video content, including a reversal of plans to move away from traditional photo posts after criticism from users and celebrities.
