Instagram is making a major change to the way it measures the success of content on its platform. In an effort to inspire creators to reach a broader audience, Instagram has announced that “views” will now be the primary metric across all content formats. This change represents a strategic shift from traditional metrics like follower counts and likes to a better understanding of content engagement.

Instagram head Adam Mosseri has been advocating for this change for several months, urging creators to focus less on follower counts and more on reach. Mosseri believes that reach is the ultimate goal for creators, as it reflects the true extent of their content’s visibility and impact.

Today, Instagram has taken a decisive step to implement this vision. The platform will improve its analytics to prioritize “views” across all content formats, including Reels, live videos, photos, carousels, and Stories. The move aims to provide creators with a uniform metric to evaluate the performance of their content, regardless of the format.

“We’re introducing ‘views’ as the primary metric across all formats, including Reels, Live, Photos, Carousel, and Stories. These changes ensure creators have the same metrics across Instagram, helping them understand how their content is performing across any format and develop better strategies to help them achieve their goals,” Instagram said in its announcement.

What to keep in mind?

-Reels: The metric previously known as “Plays” will now be labeled “Views.”

-Photos, Carousels, and Stories: “Views” will become the primary metric for these formats as well.

-Insights: The Analytics section will now feature a “Views” icon, replacing other metrics like “Accounts Reached,” “Accounts Engaged,” “Interactions,” and “View Time.”

This change also means that the number of times content is viewed will also be counted, similar to how plays and replays are counted for Reels. By focusing on views, Instagram aims to provide a more accurate reflection of content engagement and visibility.

While this change may initially seem challenging for creators accustomed to traditional metrics, Instagram hopes that the increased visibility provided by counting the number of repeat views will ease the transition. The platform believes that this change will ultimately benefit creators by providing a clear picture of their content’s performance and helping them refine their strategies for better reach and engagement.