Instagram Unveils New Rewards for Top Creators

Instagram has revealed plans for new rewards targeting its top creators, opting for social status enhancements over cash incentives.

On Monday, Meta-owned Instagram introduced the 'Rings' award, celebrating those who take creative risks and innovate in their own unique ways.

A panel of creatives, including Instagram head Adam Mosseri, designer Marc Jacobs, actress Yara Shahidi, and YouTuber Marques Brownlee, nominated and voted for deserving creators.

The winners, yet to be announced, will receive a physical ring designed by Grace Wales Bonner and a digital ring on their Instagram profile.

Winning creators will have a gold ring around their profile picture when posting stories and will be able to customize their profile backdrop and 'like' button.

The Instagram ring is reminiscent of YouTube's Creator Awards, which offer plaques based on subscriber count.

This recognition-based award follows Meta's discontinuation of the Reels Play bonus in 2023, as it shifts focus to developing monetization solutions for creators.

Creators can still earn through Meta, fan support, and brand partnerships, which have shown significant progress over the past year.