Instagram has rolled out a significant update that removes an often-criticised feature called the “rug pull.” This change comes after users complained about the automatic refreshing of their feeds as soon as the app was opened, a behaviour that many found frustrating.
Here’s a breakdown of what the “rug pull” was, why Instagram made the change, and how it improves the user experience.
What was the ‘rug pull’ feature?
The “rug pull” was an internal term used by Instagram for the feature that caused the feed to automatically refresh as soon as users opened the app, particularly after a period of inactivity. This behaviour would often result in the first few posts that appeared on the screen being pushed off as new content loaded. Essentially, users would see something they were interested in, but before they could engage with it, it would disappear, forcing them to manually scroll to find it again.
While the feature was designed to help load new content quickly and boost user engagement by showing fresh posts, it often led to a frustrating experience where users would lose track of content they had just seen.
Why Instagram removed it?
Instagram’s head, Adam Mosseri, confirmed the removal of the rug pull feature during an AMA (Ask Me Anything) session. He admitted that while the feature was meant to improve user engagement by automatically refreshing the feed, it often ended up being “annoying” for users. The issue stemmed from the fact that posts that appeared at the top of the screen would vanish before users could interact with them, leading to a less seamless experience.
The decision to remove the feature was made to enhance the overall user experience, even if it meant sacrificing some of the app’s engagement metrics. Now, instead of refreshing the feed automatically, Instagram will load content in the background but will only display it once the user scrolls. The new content will then be inserted below the posts already visible on the screen.
What does this change mean for Instagrammers?
With the removal of the rug pull feature, Instagram users will now have a more predictable and less jarring experience when opening the app. Instead of content moving around unexpectedly, users can view the posts that initially appear on their screen without the disruption of automatic feed refreshing. This change aims to create a smoother, more engaging browsing experience, with fewer distractions and interruptions.
