Instagram’s Shopping Page is Reportedly Bidding Goodbye! Here’s Why

Instagram's Shopping page is reportedly leaving the social media giant soon as it rolls back its shopping-related functionalities.

Instagram
A picture taken on October 12, 2021 in Moscow shows the US social network Instagram's logo on a smartphone screen. by KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP via Getty Images

So does this mean that other shopping features on Instagram are likely bidding farewell too?

Instagram's Shopping Page is Bidding Goodbye

As per the latest news story by Business Insider, the giant social media network owned by Mark Zuckerberg's Meta looks to scale down with its shopping features. And one of the casualties is none other than the Shopping tab on Instagram.

According to a report by Social Media Today, the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced most of us to stay at home most of the time, has boosted e-commerce significantly.

And as such, giant social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram have also increasingly introduced shopping features to their users. However, it looks like the latter is now backtracking, and has decided to scale back on it.

A recent internal memo to the workforce of Instagram, seen by The Information, gives us a glimpse of how the social media service plans to scale down on shopping.

The memo states that the giant social networking platform is looking to "shift in company priorities." In turn, it plans to let go of the Instagram Shopping page, which provides users with tons of personalized content.

Instagram 'Tab Lite'

But this does not necessarily mean that Insta is entirely ditching its shopping features. Instead, the social network stated in the memo that it plans to introduce a new "Tab Lite" page.

Instagram
An Instagram employee takes a video using Instagram's new video function at Facebook's corporate headquarters during a media event in Menlo Park, California on June 20, 2013. by JOSH EDELSON/AFP via Getty Images

Business Insider notes in its report that the new page would still provide shopping content. However, this time, it will no longer be as personalized as before. The firm plans to test out a new version of its app that would include the new "Tab Lite" feature.

Meanwhile, The Information reports that Instagram is looking to ditch its current shopping tab early next year or sometime in March 2023.

Instagram Shopping Features

Instagram says on its Business website that Shopping "is a set of features that allow people to easily shop your brand's photos and videos."

Meanwhile, the social media giant says that "the shopping tab on Instagram's home screen is a destination for people to discover new brands." It also helps users find "products and editor's picks, personalized to them."

However, now that the parent firm of Instagram is set to focus on new priorities, the photo and video sharing platform is getting a scaled-down shopping feature known as "Tab Lite."

It is still unclear how the new approach of Instagram to shopping would be once it starts rolling out. But it should see the light of day soon as it begins its internal testing.

This article is owned by Tech Times

Written by Teejay Boris

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