The practice involves uploading images with a specific aspect ratio of 9:16 to the Instagram platform. This format results in a vertical, full-screen display when viewed on mobile devices within Instagram Stories and Reels. Content creators frequently employ this ratio to maximize visual impact and screen real estate for their audiences.
Utilizing a vertical format offers several advantages, including enhanced user engagement and improved content visibility. A full-screen image captures the viewer’s attention more effectively than smaller, horizontally oriented images. The adoption of vertical formats reflects a shift in content consumption preferences, driven by the prevalence of mobile devices and the increasing popularity of short-form video platforms. Historically, Instagram primarily supported square and horizontal images, but the introduction of Stories and Reels necessitated the adaptation to vertical formats.