Is Instagram Making Your Videos Worse?

Instagram’s recent decision to reduce the quality of older, less-viewed videos has sparked strong reactions among creators, with many calling the move “alarming” and “disheartening.” The revelation came after Instagram’s head, Adam Mosseri, shared that higher video quality is reserved for popular content, while less-engaged videos might be downgraded. “We bias to higher quality… for creators who drive more views,” Mosseri explained in a post on Threads. For creators who rely on the platform to showcase their work, this engagement-based quality approach is a new hurdle. “I think it is incredibly harmful to the creative’s art,” said creator Siete Savone, 25. She added, “No one should have to worry about the quality of their content being affected due to Instagram’s engagement bias.”

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The decision to downgrade video quality on less-viewed content has raised concerns about fairness, particularly for smaller creators trying to gain traction. “How can creators gain traction if their content is penalized for not being popular?” asked social media consultant Matt Navarra. Critics argue that Instagram’s approach risks creating an algorithmic hierarchy, where larger accounts benefit from a quality boost, while emerging creators are left struggling. For many, it’s a sign that Instagram prioritizes cost-cutting over nurturing diverse talent on its platform. As Savone put it, “The playing field should be even for all creators, big and small.”

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Some creators feel that Instagram’s new policy diminishes the platform’s promise of equal opportunity for content to go viral. “This is yet another hurdle for us,” said digital marketer Jessie Lin. “It’s not just about creativity anymore; it’s about trying to break through a platform that values my content less if it doesn’t hit a certain threshold.” Many in the community are now calling for Instagram to be more transparent about how its algorithms influence content reach and quality. They argue that creators, who are essential to the platform’s success, deserve a fair shot regardless of their follower count.

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Instagram has defended the decision as a necessary balance between supporting creators and managing operational costs, noting that higher-quality video streaming demands more resources. Mosseri clarified that the quality reduction is applied on a “sliding scale” and in an “aggregate” way, with the goal of showing viewers the highest quality content available. Still, as Instagram continues its push toward a video-first experience, it may need to consider alternative solutions that ensure quality isn’t just a privilege for the platform’s top creators but a standard for everyone looking to share their work.