Teen users can now choose from several designs that transform the classic Instagram logo into creative variations, including neon, clear glass, fire, flowers, and green slime. To access the feature, teens tap the Instagram logo at the top of the home feed.
The announcement sparked backlash from adult users, many of whom feel left out. Some accused Instagram of copying Snapchat (which requires a paid Snapchat+ subscription to change app icons), while others said it gave “MySpace vibes.”
Instagram’s teen accounts, introduced in 2024, come with extra protections for minors, including limits to PG-13 content. The company also uses AI to detect teens who lie about their age and automatically enrolls them in these restricted accounts.
By offering custom icons, Instagram is trying a more positive approach—using incentives rather than restrictions—to make teen accounts more appealing. A spokesperson told TechCrunch that teens enjoy personalizing their Instagram experience, and there are no plans to extend the feature to older users or paid subscribers.
Targeting younger users makes sense, as teens have enthusiastically embraced iPhone Home Screen customization trends, which gained momentum with Apple’s widgets in iOS 14 and further enhancements in iOS 18 and 26.