Are Reels Trends Dominating The Instagram Feed In 2025?

Scrolling through Instagram now, it’s hard not to notice how much space Reels take up. They started out as Instagram’s answer to TikTok, but now it really feels like short videos are what the app is built around.

The algorithm seems to go out of its way to put Reels in front of you, sometimes even before posts from friends or the longer videos that used to get more attention. It’s not just another new feature – watching and sharing these quick clips is how a lot of people are finding new accounts, products, music, all sorts of things. You see brands, influencers, even people who used to only post photos, all trying to figure out how to make their own Reels stand out.

I’ve noticed conversations pop up about things like better growth on Instagram and how strategies seem to change depending on what kind of content is favored by the platform at the moment. It’s not easy to say if Reels are completely taking over, though. Regular photo posts and Stories are still there, but it feels like the main things people talk about or share widely come from Reels now.

It raises the question of whether this shift is something users are really enjoying or if it’s mostly about Instagram wanting to keep up with other platforms. There’s also the concern about whether making everything revolve around short videos is actually good for how people connect or if it’s just what works best for the algorithm. Looking at it, I wonder how much of what we see is shaped by what we actually like and how much is nudged by Instagram’s priorities, or by strategies like people buying engagement to try to keep up.

We pushed so hard on the Instagram funnel that we ended up squeezing the life out of the people using it. That’s not an exaggeration – it’s more or less what’s happening now that Instagram’s algorithm is focused almost entirely on Reels for 2025. The thinking behind it is pretty simple: posts that get more engagement are more likely to show up in your feed.

And right now, short, looping videos do that best. But as Instagram competes for our attention, the algorithm keeps doubling down on things that have already proven popular, not necessarily things that feel genuine or personal. Even if you log in just to catch up with friends, you can tell something’s changed. Instead of seeing posts from people you follow, the feed leans heavily into whatever is trending – usually dance routines, short memes, or product demos. Those kinds of posts are everywhere, and they’re designed in a way that keeps us scrolling, even if we don’t really want to. The idea of what’s “shareable” has shifted, too.

If you want people to notice you – or sometimes even to make sure your friends still see your posts – you end up feeling pressured to follow these trends. The more everyday, imperfect moments are still there in the mix, but they’re hard to find now because they get buried under whatever the algorithm predicts will go viral. That’s probably why so many people are searching for tips on how to trend on Reels rather than how to connect with others on the app. Even companies like INSTABOOST have adjusted, putting all their focus on Reels analytics and tools instead of broader engagement, or simply ways to expand your follower base. It’s an efficient system for growth, but over time it makes everything look and feel the same, and there’s less room left for the kind of posts that actually show who’s behind the screen.

A lot of the time, the most reliable strategies begin with a hunch. If you feel like your Instagram feed is heavy on Reels, that’s because it is – the algorithm really does push short videos, and other kinds of posts can get lost in the mix. Still, it’s not just about chasing whatever’s popular at the moment.

It helps to slow down and look at what’s actually working – try to notice not just which Reels are getting shared or liked in your space, but also which ones are starting to repeat themselves or fade away. For creators and brands, gut instinct matters, but so does checking the numbers. If you see that a certain style, edit, or piece of music keeps popping up, think about why people are drawn to it, but also ask yourself what you could do differently.

Sometimes it comes down to making a small change – using familiar audio or trying a new kind of cut – to help your video stand out. And it does seem that posting regularly helps; accounts that share Reels every week (or more often) get more reach, even if some posts don’t go anywhere. I’ve even noticed that when you popularise your Instagram content in a way that feels native to your own style, even subtle tweaks can make a difference. If you’re trying to get picked up by the Explore page, focusing on making videos that are clear and engaging is usually more useful than waiting until something feels perfect.

Some people use tools like INSTABOOST to give themselves an extra push, but the accounts that keep growing tend to be the ones that offer something a little different, whether that’s a new take on a trend or a topic people haven’t seen much. Instagram is always switching things up, and heading into 2025, being able to try new things quickly will matter. But even with all these shifts, it still comes back to paying attention – to what feels right and to what the numbers are telling you, especially when Reels are everywhere and things keep changing.

A lot of the advice out there about Instagram feels like it’s on repeat. People talk about how you have to jump on every viral Reel if you want to get anywhere, but that’s not really the whole story. Instagram is definitely leaning into short videos right now – Reels are everywhere – but that doesn’t mean everything else is irrelevant.

If you actually look around, there are creators who do well by sticking with what matters to their audience, instead of trying to follow every new trend. Reels get most of the attention, so it’s definitely harder for regular posts and stories to stand out, but users have gotten smarter about what they engage with. These days, people scroll past things that feel forced and actually look for posts that seem real and intentional, even if they’re not the flashiest video. Stories especially, when they capture something genuine, can still hold their own – sometimes you’ll notice a post or highlight Instagram stories getting more attention simply because it resonates.

Growing an account isn’t only about chasing the algorithm or hoping something goes viral – it’s more about noticing how people use the app and adjusting as those habits change. The people who combine the occasional timely Reel with steady carousels or stories usually end up with better engagement and followers who stick around. So, it’s not true that you have to buy engagement or convert everything into video just to get noticed. The competition is real, but there’s still room for posts that feel like they mean something. Using a trend when it actually fits what you’re doing makes more sense than copying what everyone else is posting, and that’s probably the only way to keep your account working for you – even when Instagram decides to switch things up again.

It’s easy to get tired of seeing the same Instagram Reels trends over and over, and you’re definitely not the only one feeling that way. The way the algorithm works, it keeps showing you whatever’s already popular, so it can start to seem like posting short, fast videos is your only option if you want any attention. But it’s worth slowing down and asking if copying the latest popular format is actually helping you build any real connection, or if it’s just making your numbers look good for a little while.

When you chase after every trend, it’s easy to lose track of what makes your posts feel like they belong to you. In reality, the accounts that people actually remember aren’t always the ones following every trend as soon as it pops up. More often, it’s the people who figure out a way to mix what’s current with something that feels true to them – sometimes that’s a detailed multi-photo carousel, sometimes it’s a single photo that stands out, or a video that doesn’t look like all the others. There’s no shortcut or paid trick that will guarantee you’ll end up on the Explore page, no matter how many people are trying to buy more shares or likes. Authenticity still matters, even if it sometimes feels like the platform only rewards content that spreads fast. When the excitement around a trend fades, it’s usually the people who were willing to try something a little different – even if it didn’t look like what everyone else was doing – who end up getting noticed for the right reasons.