Oh. Em. Geeeee!
I mean, we knew it was inevitable we'd hit this milestone but Instagram/Meta has been super tight lipped about user numbers. The last update they gave us was when IG hit 1 billion monthly active users - back in 2018!
Ok, if you were following the news closely, "sources" hinted at the 2 billion milestone back in December 2021 but this is the first that Meta has actually acknowledged this user data.
What does all of this mean for you?
Well, if your engagement is down, if your reach is down, if you're struggling to grow your followers, you're not alone. In fact, you're one of 2 billion people feeling the saturation 😉
The reality is that with more people on the platform, you're working that much harder to reach your audience. Your followers are following more people, it's more content to sort through. And that means yours is having to work harder to compete.
Additionally, we've had to accept the recalibration post-pandemic and how that is impacting users, but especially brands. If you haven't watched my Reel on this topic, make sure you watch this real (pun totally intended!) quick:
And let's just be real. There's also a lot of burnout. Instagram has put us through the wringer with changes and updates galore. That takes a toll on users and how and where they spend their time on the app.
So, yes, it's been a lot of change in the last couple of years. This does NOT mean that Instagram doesn't work. It just means we have to work it differently.
It's time to recalibrate your Instagram strategy. It's time to consider other content ideas, new calls-to-action, a different campaign for growth.
We're coming up on the end of 2022. We're going into holiday shopping season. You're reviewing those annual benchmarks and looking to hit your Q4 goals. Are you on track? Should you be doing something different?
If so, I'd love to help!
I've just opened up a few consultation slots in November to help brands and businesses with exactly this. You can book a one-hour session with me (or more than one) to get a quick audit of your Instagram account, dive deep into your strategy, and get actionable steps you can implement immediately to help you achieve those Q4 goals and set yourself up for success going into 2023.

You can find out more about the consulting sessions, or other services, here: https://jennstrends.com/work-with-jenn/
This is a significant accomplishment for Instagram. But it is true that Instagram is becoming highly competitive.