Instagram rolls out new fonts for Stories and Reels

Update 15/08/24: It seems Instagram is rolling back the new fonts. Several users are reporting that they no longer have the new fonts, which is normal during A/B testing. But whether the changes will be available again for everyone in future remains to be seen.

Original article follows:

Not long after giving Notes a golden touch, Instagram is shaking things up again, this time with a fresh coat of font options for Stories and Reels. A new font rollout is currently underway, but like most things Instagram, it’s a bit of a rollercoaster.

After months of testing, Instagram has finally started rolling out new fonts to more users — and as expected, the reactions are a mixed bag. For some, the arrival of these new fonts is like Christmas morning. They’re excited to jazz up their Stories and Reels with a little extra flair. But for others, the experience is more of a confusing jumble of “Where’s my font?” and “Why does my app look different?”

Instagram has been playing it cool with this update, keeping the rollout somewhat hush-hush. It’s likely that the new fonts are being released via a server-side update since having the latest version of the app doesn’t guarantee you’ll see the changes right away. Some users have the new fonts on their Reels but not on their Stories, while others are experiencing the exact opposite.

The Instagram community is buzzing with chatter about these new fonts, and let’s just say, it’s a tale of two cities. On one side, there are users who are absolutely thrilled. They’re loving the fresh options, and they can’t wait to sprinkle their posts with some new typographic style.

On the flip side, you’ve got those who are not so enamored. Some are frustrated that they don’t have the new fonts yet, while others who do have them aren’t exactly fans of the design. A few are even mourning the loss of their favorite fonts that seem to have been replaced overnight. It’s a classic case of “Why fix what isn’t broken?”

Then there’s the group stuck somewhere in the middle — those who have the new fonts on one account but not another, despite using the same app on the same device.

If you’re eagerly awaiting your new font options, sit tight — they’re on the way. But be prepared for a surprise, whether it’s a pleasant one or not. Instagram seems to be rolling these out in waves, and you might wake up one morning to find your Stories or Reels looking a little different.