Instagram Updates 10-Year-Old Wordmark, Drawing Backlash Over New “r”

3 articles · Updated · sf.gazetteer.co · Aug 20

A decade after its last wordmark change, Instagram rolled out a cleaner, more modern logo that quickly drew online mockery, with critics saying the cursive “r” makes it read like “Instagzam.”
Adam Mosseri said the redesign keeps references to the original while simplifying the brand; several designers told Gazetteer the shift better matches Instagram’s streamlined camera icon and broader visual system.
Designer opinion still split: some called the mark more legible and cohesive, while others said it feels “soulless” or “ugly” despite being a natural evolution of the old script.
One designer linked the toned-down look to Meta’s wider pressures, noting the refresh arrived as a trial began over lawsuits from 29 states accusing Meta of building addictive platforms for children.