Instagram head Adam Mosseri says the company is looking to enhance the app’s search functionality, acknowledging that this is an area where Instagram could improve to stay competitive. The comments were made on a recent episode of the “Build Your Tribe” podcast, as younger Gen Z users increasingly rely on social apps like TikTok for information instead of traditional search engines.
Instagram is part of this mix as well, but recognizes the need to strengthen its position.
“We’re starting to invest more in search on Instagram because there’s a wealth of amazing content,” Mosseri stated. “Content search, as opposed to searching for an account, is not very effective on Instagram.”
The small team working on Instagram’s search functionality has been a challenge, but Meta has recently bolstered the team to make significant improvements in this area in the coming months and years.
Gen Z and younger users’ evolving search behavior has been a topic of interest. Social apps like TikTok and Instagram have impacted traditional search providers like Google, prompting Instagram to focus on improving its search features.
Mosseri’s remarks suggest that Meta recognizes the importance of Instagram competing as a search engine, alongside its role as a social platform. The company aims to make searching for content easier and more efficient.
Instagram is working on enhancing recommended searches similar to TikTok’s approach, surfacing relevant content based on comment discussions.
The upcoming version of Instagram’s app is expected to prioritize comments to offer improved search suggestions.
