What kind of editing style will be watched & pushed by Instagram in 2026?
Adam Mosseri (Bhau/Bhai/Tauu) –
the head of Instagram, has effectively declared the death of the hyper-polished, “professional” Instagram aesthetic
He just quietly killed the “perfect” aesthetic
In his 2025 year-end memo, shared as a twenty-slide visual essay on Instagram & Threads, he explains how AI has fundamentally changed what both users & algorithms value on the platform
When flawless content can be mass-produced in seconds by AI, perfection stops being a signal of quality and starts becoming a red flag
In Mosseri’s words and logic, what once felt premium cinematic edits, immaculate lighting, ultra-smooth skin now risks signaling that the content might not be real at all
Mosseri’s core point: the scarce asset in 2026 is not beauty, it’s believability
That’s why Instagram is re‑orienting around content that looks & feels human, not studio‑perfect
The platform needs stronger signals of credibility and originality, so ranking is shifting away from pure polish toward things that prove a real person actually hit record
Think about what that implies:
– Slightly shaky, handheld shots
– Imperfect angles and “unflattering” frames
– Background noise, messy rooms, real environments
– Quick cuts instead of over‑engineered transitions
All of these become trust signals in a feed flooded with synthetic media
Mosseri even calls out hardware & software players: camera companies are still optimising for a 2015 “professional photographer” look, while the real opportunity is in leaning into the raw, unproduced aesthetic. In a world where everything can look perfect, imperfection becomes a strategy
For creators, this is huge:
– You don’t need complex editing suites to be competitive
– Over‑editing can actually hurt you by making content feel less real
– Speed, honesty, and originality are now structural advantages
If you’re still delaying posts because the edit isn’t “perfect,” you’re optimising for the wrong algorithm
The new game on Instagram is simple:
Less studio, More real life
Less “flawless.” More proof you’re human
Creators who understand this shift early will win disproportionate attention over the next 12–18 months
Would you be comfortable posting content that shows you at your most unpolished?
Photo with Saee Ghatame – one of my top favourite genz team members at BeerBiceps Skillhouse, she worked with us for over a year & is now moving to Australia for higher studies, keep DMing me the all new genz words & educate me to keep up with you all, Saee, keep slaying, the rizz alive
