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Social media giant Meta is reportedly developing a dedicated Instagram application for iPad tablets, according to The Information. Presently, using Instagram on an iPad involves utilizing a scaled-up rendition of the iPhone application. Consequently, a tailored Instagram app from Meta would represent a significant and anticipated enhancement for users seeking a better tablet experience.
Potential Motivations for Meta’s iPad Instagram App Development
What factors are prompting Meta’s action now, following years of not prioritizing Apple’s tablets? The Information suggests that the ambiguous legal situation surrounding TikTok, influenced by divest-or-ban legislation and potential tariffs, could be a significant catalyst. This potential shift in the competitive landscape may be pushing Meta to invest in areas previously deemed lower priority, such as a dedicated Instagram app for iPad.
Meta’s Prior Reluctance Towards an iPad Instagram App
Meta has previously expressed public reluctance toward creating a dedicated Instagram application for iPads. This stance has been reiterated by key figures within the company, citing various reasons for not prioritizing the development of a native tablet app.
Past Statements from Adam Mosseri
In February 2022, Adam Mosseri, head of Instagram, responded to a query from Marques Brownlee regarding the continued absence of an iPad-specific Instagram app from Meta, offering an explanation.
Mosseri acknowledged the frequency of the request, stating that developing an iPad app “is still just not a big enough group of people to be a priority.” He added, “Hoping to get to it at some point, but right now we’re very heads down on other things.” This indicated that, at the time, the user base on iPads was not considered large enough to warrant the development effort.
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Reiterated Position in 2023
In 2023, Mosseri reiterated a similar sentiment: “Not working on it right now.” He commented, “I think it’s a good thing to do at some point. But we have only so many people working at Instagram, so we’ve got to pick the most important things to do to improve Instagram at any given moment. And right now, it’s not quite making the cut.” This further reinforced the company’s position that resources were being directed towards other areas considered more critical for Instagram’s overall improvement.
Limitations of Current Workarounds and the Demand for a Native Application
While utilizing the Instagram application within Stage Manager on compatible iPads provides a reasonable user experience, and the web-based version has seen improvements lately, a dedicated native iteration designed to fully leverage the larger tablet display is considered overdue by many users. A native app could offer a more optimized and feature-rich experience tailored to the iPad’s interface and capabilities.
Meta did not immediately respond to an inquiry for comment on this development.