Today’s Instagram deep dive — part of a special 2026 Social Strategy series — is made possible by Sprout Social!
This newsletter kicks off a special 2026 Social Strategy series — combining industry data, expert insights, and platform updates to help set the stage for what to prioritize this year.
I’ll be diving into a different platform each Monday, helped by experts like Fallen Media’s Sol Betesh, Snapchat creator JT Casey, Pinterest strategist Gregory Littley and more. There are also brand strategy spotlights from accounts including the Beverly Hills Cheese Store on TikTok, Sweet Loren’s on LinkedIn, e.l.f. Cosmetics on Pinterest, Eater on YouTube and the Scottsdale Public Library on Instagram, among others.
We’re starting with Instagram so you’re not forced to chase every update Adam Mosseri announces, but instead building a platform strategy that reflects how people actually use the app in 2026.
Instagram’s big theme heading into 2026 is: “See something; Say something — to each other.” Meta knows the real action is happening in the DMs. So, whether it’s Reels or Carousels that you watch on your mobile device or your TV set, the brand and creator content that wins will be whatever gets people trading content and talking about it with each other.
Let’s get into it.
INSTAGRAM PLAYBOOK
2026 Social Cues + Clues: DMs and Share Rate; Creator-Led; All About AI; Interest-Based Recommendations; and IG for TV
Sprout Social Data Drop: What audiences are expecting to see from brands on Instagram
Ask an Expert: Sol Betesh on Instagram’s scripted storytelling
Ask an Expert: Jenny McCoy on AI Creative in paid media
Brand Spotlight: The Scottsdale Public Library
Your Source of Truth: People to follow for updates
Same But Different: Platform Comparisons and Audience Overlaps
