Meta
has begun developing an Instagram app for iPad. The reason for this was the legal uncertainty surrounding TikTok amid discussions about the law on its sale or ban in the US, as well as tariffs imposed by the Donald Trump administration.
Image source: 绵绵/Unsplash
Currently, iPad users launch Instagram as a larger version of the iPhone app, which limits the interface’s functionality and reduces usability. According to The Information, a possible reason for revising the strategy was the discussion in the US of a bill that would oblige ByteDance to either sell TikTok or leave the US market. Additional pressure comes from tariff measures introduced during Donald Trump’s presidency.
Meta had previously held back from creating a standalone Instagram app for iPad. In February 2022, Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri responded to a post by blogger Marques Brownlee: “We get asked this a lot, but it’s not a big enough group of users to be a priority yet. Hopefully we’ll get around to it someday, but right now we’re very busy with other things.”
Image source: @mosseri / X
In 2023, Mosseri reiterated a similar position: “We’re not doing that right now. I think it will be useful over time. But we have a limited number of people on the Instagram team, so we have to prioritize the things that will actually help improve Instagram at this point. And this just isn’t one of those things right now.”
Using Instagram in Stage Manager mode on compatible iPad models provides an acceptable user experience. The web app has improved significantly in recent years. The potential introduction of a native client could be a significant step towards optimizing the user experience and increasing engagement among audiences using large-screen devices.