Instagram is working on bringing back the chronological timeline

Instagram says it's working on new ways for users to sort their feeds — including finally bringing back the ability to view it chronologically.

"We’ve been experimenting with Favorites, a way for you to decide whose posts you want to see higher up, and we’re working on another option to see posts from people you follow in chronological order," the official Instagram Comms Twitter account posted on Wednesday.

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While the image-sharing platform had originally displayed all posts in chronological order, a 2016 update altered Instagram to prioritise posts according to an algorithm. The change was widely reviled, with many users attempting to find workarounds.

Fortunately, it looks like half a decade of mildly discontented grumbling has finally taught Instagram that the majority of users don't much care for their algorithm. The company is still keeping the algorithm around, just in case some people have grown to like it or just really hate change. However it will no longer be mandatory, with Instagram aiming to offer different options on how to sort your timeline, including prioritising more recent posts or posts from your favourite accounts.

"We want to be clear that we’re creating new options — providing people with more choices so they can decide what works best for them — not switching everyone back to a chronological feed," Instagram tweeted. "You can expect more on this early next year!"

This doesn't necessarily mean the longed-for feature will arrive next year, only that more information on it will. But either way, it's one step closer to the return of a feature that Instagram's users have coveted for a long time.

Instagram declined to comment whether it intends to trial these new prioritisation options, nor when we can expect them or if any more will be offered besides the ones mentioned. The company instead directed Mashable to their tweets, as well as CEO Adam Mosseri's statement.

"It's important to me that people have meaningful control over their experience, and I believe a place where you can see everything from the accounts you follow in chronological order is an important thing," tweeted Mosseri.

UPDATE: Dec. 9, 2021, 12:31 p.m. This article has been updated with Instagram's comment.