Instagram Unveils New Brand Name and Sparks Jokes for Looking Like 'Instagzam'

**Instagram has introduced a new brand name with a typography reminiscent of cursive, generating both praise and criticism for the confusion with the letter 'r'. The community jokes that it now reads as Instagzam.

• The new text-only logo aims to be sharper and more modern, according to Adam Mosseri.
• Many users criticize that the letter 'r' looks like a 'z', leading to the joke 'Instagzam'.
• The change comes ten years after the last redesign of Instagram's visual identity in 2016.

Instagram unveiled a new brand name on Thursday, featuring a text-only logo that spells out the company's name.

The decision comes as the previous version of the logo appeared outdated after a decade of use, as reported by TechCrunch.

The announcement was made by Instagram's director, Adam Mosseri, on both Instagram and Threads.

Mosseri described the new logo as "sharper and more modern," while referencing the original and maintaining simplicity.

Mixed Reactions of Praise and Criticism

Although people are often resistant to change, especially with familiar brands and logos, the revamped design is receiving some praise amid the complaints.

Some users highlight the fresher look of the new design, while others commend the choice of font.

However, a recurring complaint is that the logo now seems to say "Instagzam" instead of "Instagram".

The confusion arises from the shape of the font used for the letter 'r', which many consider similar to a 'z'.

Despite these interpretations, it is fair to say that the name Instagram is such a recognizable brand that most people will know immediately what it says, despite the artistic embellishments.

A Font That Reminds of Cursive Writing

The brand's font resembles cursive writing, as it adds outdated curves to the letters 's', 'r', and 'g'.

This choice is interesting given that younger generations mostly no longer learn to write in cursive.

This means that many young users may not immediately understand why the shape that looks like the sail of a small boat is actually an 's'.

The redesign aims to modernize the brand without losing its connection to its original identity.

The combination of cursive elements and a cleaner stroke attempts to balance tradition and modernity.

History of Visual Identity Changes at Instagram

The last time Instagram updated its design was in 2016.

At that time, the company moved away from the classic brown camera with the rainbow stripe to the pink gradient that remains the icon today.

That change also generated mixed reactions among users, many of whom missed the original camera.

The new brand name change adds to a constant evolution of the platform's visual identity.

Meta, Instagram's parent company, has yet to respond to a request for further comments on the redesign.

What’s Next for Instagram?

Meta has not indicated whether we should expect other design changes on Instagram over time.

It is also unclear whether the company plans to modify the app icon or any other visual elements.

The lack of an official response leaves room for speculation about a possible broader interface update.

For now, the new text-only logo is the most visible change.

Users will need to get used to reading "Instagram" with the new typography, with or without confusion over the 'r' that resembles a 'z'.