Instagram is rolling out custom icons… but only for teens

Some Instagram users are feeling cheated by a new feature, as the photo and video sharing app announced Wednesday the launch of custom icons — but only for its teenage users.

Teens can now choose from a range of custom icons that transform the traditional Instagram logo into new shapes that can be used as an app icon on their phone’s home screen. The option is accessed by clicking on the Instagram logo at the top of the home feed after opening the app.

Currently, custom icons include six versions of the Instagram logo in the form of neon, clear glass, fire, flowers, green clay, and more.

In responses to its announcement on the Some have accused Instagram of chasing Snapchat with this feature. (On Snapchat, users need a paid Snapchat+ subscription to change the app icon.) Others said it gave them “MySpace vibes.”

Teen accounts on Instagram, launching in 2024, add additional restrictions and built-in protections for minors, including limits on PG-13 material content. Earlier this year, the company began using artificial intelligence technology to identify teens who lied about their age on the social network and enroll them in more restrictive teen accounts.

With custom icons, the company is trying a different approach: using the carrot rather than the stick, so to speak, to make teen accounts look more attractive. After reaching out for comment, Instagram told TechCrunch that it added the icons because it found that teens like to customize their Instagram experience. The company said it has no plans to expand access to the codes to older users or paid subscribers.

It makes sense that younger users would be a target for customization options, as they have overwhelmingly embraced the iPhone home screen customization trend, which saw renewed interest when Apple introduced widgets in 2020 with the launch of iOS 14. Apple has also made it easier to customize icons with improvements to App Shortcuts. Recently, Apple simplified the process with colorful icons in iOS 18, which was updated in iOS 26.

Android users have had these types of customization options for a much longer time, even though the majority of teens in the United States use iPhones.

Updated to include Instagram caption.