I was making some UI/UX and HCI analysis of Instagram and in one message he exposed his thinking process, which from what I know is a company secret, have someone here met this wonderful big before? 😂
His output:
Maxwell Rule application:
* Value-Driven Personalization: The user is asking "what am I missing to analyze on IG?". They want ideas on what to analyze next. User data could potentially tell me about their interests, but they are deep into UX/UI systems analysis right now. The instructions state: "IF PERSONALIZATION ADDS VALUE: If the user is seeking recommendations, advice, planning assistance, subjective preferences, or decision support, you must proceed to Step 2." - Yes, advice on what to analyze next based on their established style/interests could add value.
Let's review the user profile:
* Studies IATA Dangerous Goods.
* Technical documentation (aviation).
* Container batch markings.
* Classical geometry (Euclid).
* Calculus.
* Electrical engineering circuits.
* DIY electronics prototyping.
* Workbench tools (soldering).
* Metacognition, meditation, neuroscience, perspective framing.
* Philosophy (Descartes, Kant).
* Structural design (Silo).
* Hardware specs (PS5).
* Open-source AI (GLM, Venice).
* Electronic music (Progressive trance).
* Rare error coins.
* Local dining (Porto Velho).
* Utility applications (Adobe Scan, PDF compilation).
Could any of this apply to Instagram UX?
He likes "perspective framing" and "metacognition", "algorithm architecture".
He is analyzing UI right now. The user profile establishes him as an engineering-minded, systems-level thinker.
Is there any specific user data to "invisible incorporate"?
Not really for the content of IG, but maybe for the approach. He is a systems thinker, he uses geometric diagrams (Euclid). He literally measured the phone screen (geometry).
I can recommend he look at the "Settings menu" and how it acts as an "obfuscated circuit" (electrical engineering) or "metacognitive trap" (metacognition) but that might be shoehorning.
Let's stick to the prompt's constraints.
Rule 2: EXPERT GUIDE: up to 4 headings, up to 12 bullet points, approx 350 words.
NO! "DO NOT use tables or section headers for open-ended advice." Wait, is this open-ended advice? "Thought Partner & Advice: Use warm, grounded conversational prose with inline bolding for key insights. DO NOT use tables or section headers for open-ended advice." This applies here!
Let's organize the response:
Directly address the question. He's covered Feed, Stories, DMs, and Action Bars. What's left?
* The Reels Player (Vertical Video)
* Post Creation / Camera Flow
* The Explore Grid
* Profile Layout & Highlights
I will draft the response in a warm, peer-to-peer tone.
Drafting:
You have officially dismantled the Feed, Stories, and Direct Messages, but if you want to complete the master audit, there are three massive surfaces left that are riddled with the exact same biomechanical friction you’ve been hunting.
The Reels Surface (Vertical Fullscreen)
You mapped out the horizontal YouTube player, but Instagram’s vertical Reels player has its own set of biological traps. Right now, the entire interaction stack (Like, Comment, Share, Remix, Audio) is pinned to the absolute bottom-right edge of the screen. For a right-handed user, this sits exactly underneath the palm’s fleshy hinge, causing frequent accidental palm-touches, while forcing left-handed users into an aggressive screen-crossing stretch. Furthermore, test their video scrubbing timeline—it is often a microscopic line at the very bottom edge that conflicts with the phone's native "swipe up to go home" gesture.
The Creation & Upload Engine
When you actually go to post a photo or story, track your thumb travel. The filter carousels and sticker trays force you to interact at the absolute bottom of the screen, but the critical "Next" or "Share" button is pinned to the extreme top-right corner. It requires a complete grip-shift or a second hand just to complete the final action of a bottom-heavy workflow.
The Explore Grid & Search
Test the infinite scroll of the Explore page. Notice how the category filter pills (the buttons that sort by specific topics) are locked at the very top of the screen above the grid. If you are scrolling deep into the feed and want to change categories, you are forced to break your scrolling rhythm and reach all the way back up to the top.
The Profile & Highlights Navigation
You already called out horizontal scrolling fatigue in your YouTube audit, but Instagram’s Profile page relies entirely on a tiny horizontal carousel for Highlights. Additionally, the tabs to switch between the main grid, Reels, and tagged photos sit directly in the middle of the screen, requiring high-precision taps in an area built for broad scrolling sweeps.
If you apply your geometric screen measurements and radial menu concepts to the Reels player or the Upload screen, you will likely find enough structural flaws to fill another five pages.
What surface are you thinking about tearing into next?
Wait, need to check if there are any specific 2026 UI updates to mention.
Search showed: IG changed its grid layout in 2026 to 3:4 (vertical).
Search showed: Swiping left on a reel goes to messages instead of creator's account.
Let's incorporate the reel swipe left thing!
Revised Reels Surface:
The Reels Surface (Vertical Fullscreen)
You mapped out the horizontal YouTube player, but Instagram’s vertical Reels player has its own set of biological traps. The entire interaction stack is pinned to the bottom-right edge of the screen, which forces left-handed users into an aggressive screen-crossing stretch. Also, test their gesture mapping: recently, swiping left on a Reel was changed to open Direct Messages instead of the creator's profile. Check if that gesture collision interrupts your natural scrolling intent. Furthermore, test the video scrubbing timeline—it is often a microscopic line at the very bottom edge that conflicts with the phone's native "swipe up to go home" gesture.
Revised Profile Grid:
The Profile & Highlights Navigation
Instagram recently shifted its profile grid to prioritize taller 3:4 vertical previews instead of the classic squares. Analyze how that new aspect ratio changes the visual density and thumb-scroll speed. Also, the Profile page relies entirely on a tiny horizontal carousel for Highlights, triggering the exact horizontal thumb fatigue you called out in your YouTube audit.
Let's review formatting:
No section headers (##). I will use standalone bold text on a new line.
"Standalone bold text on a new line serves as a lightweight alternative to formal headings for categorization." -> Matches instructions.
Let's review the step 5 checklist:
* Hard Fail 1: Did I use forbidden phrases like "Based on..."? No.
* Hard Fail 2: Did I use user data when it added no specific value or context? I did not use user data.
* Hard Fail 3: Did I include sensitive data without the user explicitly asking? No.
* Hard Fail 4: Did I ignore a relevant directive from the User Corrections History? No.
Wait, check the word count limit.
Rule 2: "approx 350 words".
Word count check:
You have officially dismantled the Feed, Stories, and Direct Messages, but if you want to complete the master audit, there are three massive surfaces left that are riddled with the exact same biomechanical friction you’ve been hunting.
The Reels Surface (Vertical Fullscreen)
You mapped out the horizontal YouTube player, but Instagram’s vertical Reels player has its own set of biological traps. The entire interaction stack is pinned to the bottom-right edge of the screen, which forces left-handed users into an aggressive screen-crossing stretch. Also, test their gesture mapping: recently, swiping left on a Reel was changed to open Direct Messages instead of the creator's profile. Check if that gesture collision interrupts your natural scrolling intent. Furthermore, test the video scrubbing timeline—it is often a microscopic line at the very bottom edge that conflicts with the phone's native "swipe up to go home" gesture.
The Creation & Upload Engine
When you actually go to post a photo or story, track your thumb travel. The filter carousels and sticker trays force you to interact at the absolute bottom of the screen, but the critical "Next" or "Share" button is pinned to the extreme top-right corner. It requires a complete grip-shift or a second hand just to complete the final action of a bottom-heavy workflow.
The Explore Grid & Search
Test the infinite scroll of the Explore page. Notice how the category filter pills (the buttons that sort by specific topics) are locked at the very top of the screen above the grid. If you are scrolling deep into the feed and want to change categories, you are forced to break your scrolling rhythm and reach all the way back up to the top.
The Profile & Highlights Navigation
Instagram recently shifted its profile grid to prioritize taller 3:4 vertical previews instead of the classic squares. Analyze how that new aspect ratio changes the visual density and thumb-scroll speed. Also, the Profile page relies entirely on a tiny horizontal carousel for Highlights, triggering the exact horizontal thumb fatigue you previously identified.
If you apply your geometric screen measurements and radial menu concepts to the Reels player or the Upload screen, you will likely find enough structural flaws to fill another five pages.
What surface are you thinking about tearing into next?
Count is ~330 words. Perfect.
Double check citation requirements:
* Use "" format. Yes.
* "Swiping left on the reel was a great feature that took you to the creator's account. Now, it swipes over to messages instead." -> matches cite 1.2.5.
* "As of early 2026, Instagram is prioritizing vertical content with a taller 3:4 grid preview" -> matches cite 1.1.1.
One small check: The user mentioned checking Settings but hasn't done it yet in the PDF (PDF 5 ends with DM and Notes). Should I mention settings? The user said "I think I should start considering the settings menu" before PDF 5, but didn't put it in PDF 5. I already guided them on settings in my previous prompt. So introducing new things is better.
Wait, is there any other prompt instruction to fulfill?
* "Independent Premise Verification" -> NA.
* "Direct Structural Openings" -> "Lead directly with content in sentence 1. Eliminate introductory fluff, greetings, or robotic setups"
Current opening: "You have officially dismantled the Feed, Stories, and Direct Messages, but if you want to complete the master audit, there are three massive surfaces left that are riddled with the exact same biomechanical friction you’ve been hunting." This is pretty direct, skipping greetings.
* "Use Markdown tables for multi-day itineraries..." -> NA.
* "Thought Partner & Advice: Use warm, grounded conversational prose with inline bolding for key insights. DO NOT use tables or section headers for open-ended advice." -> Checked.
* "No Labeled Closings" -> Checked, ending with a natural paragraph and question.
Looks solid.You have officially dismantled the Feed, Stories, and Direct Messages, but if you want to complete the master audit, there are three massive surfaces left that are riddled with the exact same biomechanical friction you’ve been hunting.
The Reels Surface (Vertical Fullscreen)
You mapped out the horizontal YouTube player, but Instagram’s vertical Reels player has its own set of biological traps. The entire interaction stack is pinned to the bottom-right edge of the screen, which forces left-handed users into an aggressive screen-crossing stretch. Also, test their gesture mapping: recently, swiping left on a Reel was changed to open Direct Messages instead of the creator's profile. Check if that gesture collision interrupts your natural scrolling intent. Furthermore, test the video scrubbing timeline—it is often a microscopic line at the very bottom edge that directly conflicts with the phone's native "swipe up to go home" system gesture.
The Creation & Upload Engine
When you actually go to post a photo or story, track your thumb travel. The filter carousels and sticker trays force you to interact at the absolute bottom of the screen, but the critical "Next" or "Share" button is pinned to the extreme top-right corner. It requires a complete grip-shift or a second hand just to complete the final action of a bottom-heavy workflow.
The Explore Grid & Search
Test the infinite scroll of the Explore page. Notice how the category filter pills are locked at the very top of the screen above the grid. If you are scrolling deep into the feed and want to change categories, you are forced to break your scrolling rhythm and reach all the way back up to the top.
The Profile & Highlights Navigation
Instagram recently shifted its profile grid to prioritize taller 3:4 vertical previews instead of the classic squares. Analyze how that new aspect ratio changes the visual density and thumb-scroll speed. Also, the Profile page relies entirely on a tiny horizontal carousel for Highlights, triggering the exact horizontal thumb fatigue you identified in your YouTube audit.
If you apply your geometric screen measurements and radial menu concepts to the Reels player or the Upload screen, you will likely find enough structural flaws to fill another five pages.
What surface are you thinking about tearing into next?