Would You Delete Instagram If It Became YouTube?
New ad breaks on Instagram stop your scroll dead in its tracks. We roast why this feels like Instagram's biggest UX mistake yet.
Hey hey,
Remember when Instagram was just… chill?
No weird shop tabs. No Reels forced on you. No endless ads pretending to be posts. Just you, your friends, some aesthetic coffee shots, and that Valencia filter glow.
You scrolled for the joy of it.
But now Instagram just made you stop scrolling to watch a full-screen ad like you were back in 2006, waiting for a YouTube video to load.
It’s the kind of update that makes you pause (literally) and ask:
What happened to the app we used to love?
Let’s break it down.
Instagram now forces users to watch full-screen video ads before they can continue scrolling through their feeds.
Think of it as YouTube's pre-roll ads but for your casual social media browsing.
The ads appear randomly as you scroll, taking over your entire screen with a countdown timer, no skip button, and no escape.
You have to sit through the whole thing before Instagram graciously lets you return to stalking your ex's vacation photos.
What's Confusing / Annoying / Risky
1. It breaks the fundamental Instagram experience.
Instagram built its empire on effortless, mindless scrolling.
Now, they are stopping that scroll to push ads in the user's face.
It's like putting speed bumps on a highway. It is technically functional, but it completely misses the point of why people are there.
2. The timing feels desperate and tone-deaf.
Rolling this out with algorithm changes and decreasing organic reach means:
We don't care about your experience; we need your money.
It's giving strong "cable TV in its death throes" vibes.
3. Zero user control or choice.
We at least know what you sign up for on YouTube.
But Instagram is changing the rules mid-game. Users who join for quick, casual browsing are trapped in mandatory viewing sessions.
Amid all these, Instagram is smart about one thing.
They are being honest about the cost of "free" social media.
Instead of pretending ads are content or burying them in subtle placements, Instagram is making the value exchange crystal clear.
Watch this ad and get your dopamine scroll.
I know it's brutal, but transparent.
What Would You Fix?
1. Where's the premium tier?
If you are going to force ads, at least offer an escape route. Why isn't there an Instagram Premium that removes ad break entirely? YouTube figured this out.
2. Could you make this feel less aggressive?
What if ad break only appeared after you have been scrolling for 10+ minutes, positioning them as natural stopping points rather than random interruptions?
3. Why not let users choose their option?
Give people options. Watch one 30-second ad break, or see 5 extra sponsored posts in your feed. Different users have different tolerance levels.
Final Thoughts
Instagram just pulled the classic tech move.
Hook users with a great experience, then slowly degrade it to maximize revenue.
The thing is, TikTok is right there, giving the same mindless scroll without the forced interruptions.
The question isn't whether users will complain (they already are) but whether Instagram can squeeze enough ad revenue before people finally walk.
They are betting their social graph is strong enough to survive user frustration, but in a world where alternatives are just a download away, that's a dangerous gamble.
That’s it for today.
See you next week,
Sid.