Instagram growth feels harder than it used to. Recently, a Reddit user in r/InstagramMarketing asked a question: “What’s going on with Instagram in 2026?” Dozens of marketers and creators reported dramatic drops in reach, inconsistent Reels performance, and engagement that suddenly stopped scaling — even on large accounts. The consensus? Instagram’s algorithm now prioritizes retention, saves, shares, and meaningful interactions, meaning every post must earn its distribution from scratch. If you’ve been struggling with growth…