Top 10 Instagram Trends You Can’t Ignore in 2025

Instagram continues to be a powerful tool for connecting with audiences, showcasing creativity and building brands. As the platform evolves so do the trends, making it important for users to stay updated and adapt to new features and strategies.

In 2025, some trends will dominate the Instagram space and understanding them can help you improve engagement, reach and overall success. Here are the top 10 Instagram trends you absolutely can’t ignore this year.

1. The Rise of Long-Form Carousels

Carousels have been a staple of Instagram for years, but in 2025, they are set to become even more integral to content strategy. Instagram now allows up to 20 slides in a carousel, enabling more in-depth storytelling, information sharing and visual engagement.

Why You Should Use Carousels:

Storytelling: You can build a narrative across multiple slides, allowing for more complex ideas.

Variety: With 20 slides, you can showcase a variety of angles, products or behind-the-scenes footage.

Boosts Engagement: The more slides a post has, the more time followers spend on it, increasing engagement rates.

Carousels are great for providing valuable content while keeping your audience interested. Whether you are showcasing a product, telling a personal story or sharing multiple perspectives, a well-crafted carousel can make your content more dynamic and engaging.

2. Trending Audio in Reels and Posts

Audio is one of the most influential features on Instagram, particularly in Reels. As Instagram continues to push Reels in its algorithm, using trending audio will increase your chances of getting noticed. This isn’t just about using any popular sound, it’s about aligning the audio with your content and brand personality.

How to Make the Most of Trending Audio:

Stay Updated: Regularly check for trending sounds on the Explore page or when creating Reels.

Use Relevant Audio: Make sure the audio fits with the mood and message of your content.

Put a Creative Spin on It: While jumping on trends is great, try to personalize them to align with your brand’s voice.

By using trending audio in your posts you tap into existing viral energy, giving your content a greater chance of getting discovered. Be sure to experiment with different audio tracks to see which resonates most with your audience.

3. Interactive Instagram Story Stickers

Instagram Stories have always been a popular feature but now interactive stickers are making them even more engaging. Stickers like polls, quizzes and sliders let you create two-way conversations with your followers, making them feel like an active part of your content.

Key Interactive Stickers to Use:

Polls: Engage your audience by asking for their opinions or preferences.

Quizzes: Test your audience’s knowledge or offer fun, interactive learning experiences.

Sliders: Let users express how they feel about a product or experience.

These interactive stickers offer a great way to foster community interaction and get valuable feedback directly from your audience. Plus, using them can increase the visibility of your Stories, as Instagram often pushes interactive content to more people.

4. Sustainability: A Trend That’s Here to Stay

Sustainability is no longer just a buzzword, it’s become a vital aspect of how many consumers view brands. In 2025, expect brands that highlight eco-friendly practices to attract more followers and build trust. Sharing your sustainability efforts, such as using sustainable materials or supporting green initiatives, can resonate deeply with environmentally conscious users.

Why Sustainability Matters:

Appeals to Conscious Consumers: More people are choosing brands that align with their values.

Builds Trust: Transparency in your sustainability efforts helps build credibility.

Positive Impact: Show that you’re contributing to a better world, and people will appreciate it.

If you are not already focusing on sustainability, now is the time to start. Authentic, eco-friendly messaging can set your brand apart and attract a loyal following that values social responsibility.

5. Instagram Subscriptions: Direct Monetization

Instagram’s subscription feature offers a way for creators and brands to monetize their content directly. With this feature, followers can pay to access exclusive content such as live streams, stories and more. This is a game-changer for those looking to make a living on Instagram.

Benefits of Instagram Subscriptions:

Exclusive Content: Offer your followers something special that they can’t get anywhere else.

Direct Revenue: Monetize your Instagram presence by charging subscribers for premium content.

Stronger Connections: By offering exclusive content, you can build a more intimate, engaged community.

Subscriptions provide an opportunity to earn while providing value to your most loyal followers. If you have a dedicated community, this could be a fantastic way to generate income while fostering deeper relationships with your audience.

6. Meme Culture and Text-Driven Content

In 2025, memes will continue to dominate Instagram as they’ve proven to be a simple yet effective way to engage followers. Whether it’s through humour, relatability or clever wordplay memes are the perfect way to capture attention quickly.

Why Memes Matter:

Relatability: Memes often convey shared experiences, making your audience feel understood.

Engagement: Memes are highly shareable and can go viral, increasing reach.

Personality: Memes help inject fun and personality into your content, humanizing your brand.

Incorporating memes into your content strategy is a great way to stay relevant and relatable. Keep them in line with your brand’s voice, and don’t be afraid to experiment with different formats.

7. Engaging with UGC via Branded Hashtags

User-generated content (UGC) has become a powerful marketing tool, and Instagram’s branded hashtags make it easier than ever to collect and showcase this content. You can encourage followers to use your custom hashtag to create a community around your brand.

How to Leverage UGC:

Create a Branded Hashtag: Encourage users to tag their content with a unique hashtag related to your brand.

Showcase UGC: Share user-generated posts to your feed or Stories, giving credit to the creator.

Build Community: UGC helps create a sense of community and fosters loyalty among your followers.

By sharing UGC, you build trust with your audience and encourage others to engage with your brand. It’s a win-win, your followers feel appreciated, and you get authentic content that promotes your brand.

8. AI and Automation in Content Creation

Artificial intelligence (AI) is making its way into content creation, offering a range of tools that streamline the process. From automated captions and hashtag generation to advanced photo editing, AI can save time while ensuring your content stays relevant and polished.

AI Tools to Consider:

Content Creation: Tools that help generate ideas, captions, and post schedules.

Photo and Video Editing: AI can quickly edit photos and videos, enhancing quality without much effort.

Chatbots: Use AI-powered chatbots for customer service, making it easier to engage with followers.

Although AI offers great tools, it’s important to use them strategically. While they can assist with content creation, the heart of your brand should still come from authentic, human-driven ideas and engagement.

9. Replying with Reels: New Forms of Engagement

Instagram’s “Reply with a Reel” feature adds a dynamic new way to interact with your followers. Instead of simply replying to comments with text, you can respond with short videos, giving your engagement a more personal touch.

Why Use Reply with Reels:

More Engaging: Video responses are more engaging and personal compared to text.

Wider Reach: Reels often get more visibility in the algorithm, making your replies more likely to be seen.

Foster Connection: Showing your face and responding with videos builds stronger connections with your audience.

This feature offers a fresh way to engage with followers, showing that you’re not just reacting to comments, but actively building a conversation.

10. The Power of Simple Content

While high-quality content will always have its place, simple, raw content is making a big impact in 2025. Instagram users appreciate authenticity and often find simple, unpolished content more relatable than heavily edited posts.

Why Simple Content Works:

Relatable: Simple, behind-the-scenes content feels more genuine and personal.

Engaging: It shows that you’re real and accessible, rather than an untouchable brand.

Cost-Effective: You don’t need expensive gear to create content that resonates with your audience.

In a world full of curated perfection, embracing simplicity and authenticity can set your brand apart. Show your followers the real you, and they’ll appreciate it.

Conclusion

Instagram continues to evolve, and keeping up with the latest trends is crucial for maintaining engagement and growing your instagram followers and presence. By embracing the trends we have outlined, whether it’s leveraging carousels, tapping into trending audio or experimenting with interactive stickers, you can ensure your content stays fresh, relevant, and engaging in 2025. So, stay creative, stay authentic and watch your Instagram game thrive in the new year.