"Barely readable. Boo!": Users mock Instagram's new logo
Instagram has unveiled its first new logo in a decade. Users have criticized the design for poor legibility, while others urged the platform to address ongoing issues with account suspensions and bot activity.
The Instagram network, owned by Meta, launched a new logo today (Thursday) — for the first time in a decade — and the trolling has already begun.
"The wordmark at the top of the app hasn't changed in 10 years, and it was time for a refresh," wrote Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri in a post on the platform. "Cleaner and more modern, with a nod to the original icon and the simplicity and craftsmanship that have always made it what it is."
According to an article in Variety, Instagram fans immediately pointed out that the 'r' in the new logo looks very similar to other letters, like 'z' or 'u', and that the 's' looks like the letter 'a'. "Instagzam," "Instagwam," and "Instaguam" are just some of the ways commenters have interpreted the new logo.
"It's barely readable. Did this even go through an accessibility check? Boo!" one commenter wrote.
Social media consultant Matt Navarra also reacted to the change on the X app:
"Design nerds are going to have a field day tearing the new wordmark apart. I actually like it. Fresh, modern, true to the original. Even though there are those who read it as Instagzam, I like it."
There were also commenters who complained that Instagram is not addressing other systemic issues, such as filtering content created by AI (artificial intelligence) or blocking bots.
"Adam, while Instagram gets a new look, thousands of creators and legitimate businesses are losing their accounts without a clear explanation or support," read a response from the account Resiliência Humana, which has 12.9 million followers. "Please don't forget the people behind these accounts. We need answers and a clear path to recovery."
The colorful Instagram icon, which resembles a camera, is not changing for now.
