Instagram is currently experimenting with a feature known as Ad Breaks, which introduces short, unskippable advertisements to the platform. Although Meta, the owner of Instagram, has not provided official details regarding this test, users are already discussing their experiences on Reddit. Many have expressed frustration, prompting some to contemplate leaving the platform in favor of other social media alternatives.
A Reddit user, @notthatogwiththename, took to the Instagram subreddit to announce the rollout of Ad Breaks, which appear to be affecting a select group of users. The post garnered numerous comments, with many expressing surprise at the lack of prior announcements about the change. One user noted, “I came here to post this because there are no talks about it anywhere.”
Overall sentiment in the community indicates significant dissatisfaction with the new ads. One commenter stated, “I thought I’ve been taking crazy pills for two days because this is currently happening with me and I couldn’t find any info anywhere other than your recent post. So thank you… and goodbye IG. I have no need for that.”
Users have reported encountering three to five-second ads while scrolling through their feeds, effectively disrupting their browsing experience. One user attempted to share feedback regarding the Ad Breaks but noted that they found no formal channels to communicate their concerns. Overall, there has been a lack of information from Instagram about this feature.
The introduction of Ad Breaks is leading some users to consider leaving the platform for other options. One user stated, “So far I simply close the app as soon as an ad break pops up and if this continues, I’ll be unsubscribing.” Another user expressed frustration, suggesting that the company had not conducted sufficient research before implementing this feature, which they claimed interrupts the user experience.
Updates to Notes
In a separate development, Instagram has rolled out upgrades to its Notes feature, designed to facilitate sharing personal thoughts amongst friends. Users will now be greeted with Notes Prompts—questions and ideas meant to inspire conversation when they access the Notes section. This will allow them to post responses based on these prompts.
Additionally, a Quick Likes feature has been introduced, enabling users to respond swiftly to the notes shared by their friends and followers. Another enhancement is the tagging feature, which allows users to mention friends by using the ‘@’ symbol followed by their usernames.
