Instagram Introduces New 'Ring' Award for Top Creators
In a move to recognize and reward influential creators on its platform, Instagram announced the launch of a new awards program, dubbed "The Ring," which will honor 25 top creators worldwide. The program, set to be unveiled next week, is designed to acknowledge creators who have made significant contributions to shifting culture and breaking barriers.
According to Instagram's head Adam Mosseri, the judges' panel for the awards includes a diverse group of industry experts and thought leaders, including director Spike Lee, designer Marc Jacobs, YouTuber Marques Brownlee, actress Yara Shahidi, makeup artist Pat McGrath, and more. Winners will receive a physical custom ring designed by English fashion designer Grace Wales Bonner, as well as a digital golden ring that will be displayed around their Instagram profile.
"We're excited to introduce this new program, which recognizes the impact our top creators have on culture and society," Mosseri said in a statement. "The Ring is a symbol of excellence and achievement, and we believe it will inspire even more creators to push boundaries and innovate on our platform."
Notably, winners will not receive any monetary prizes as part of this program. However, they will also be able to design a custom Like button that appears when liking feed posts.
This move comes as Meta has been scaling back its creator payout programs over the past few years. In 2023, the company stopped offering bonuses to Reels creators on Instagram and Facebook, and in 2022, it shut down its affiliate marketing bonuses.
The launch of The Ring program also marks a shift towards recognizing creators' contributions through non-monetary rewards. "We believe that recognition and accolades can be just as valuable as financial compensation," said Mosseri. "This program is designed to celebrate the impact our top creators have on culture, and we're excited to see how it will evolve over time."
The introduction of The Ring program has sparked interest among industry experts and creators alike. "It's a great way for Instagram to recognize the hard work and dedication of its top creators," said Marques Brownlee, one of the judges on the panel. "I'm looking forward to seeing who will be honored with this prestigious award."
As the awards program is set to launch next week, Instagram has announced that it will provide more information about the winners and their achievements in the coming days.
Background
Instagram's creator payout programs have been a topic of discussion among industry experts and creators. In recent years, Meta has scaled back its payouts, citing concerns over the sustainability of these programs. The launch of The Ring program marks a new approach to recognizing creators' contributions, one that focuses on non-monetary rewards.
Additional Perspectives
Industry experts see this move as a positive step towards recognizing creators' impact on culture and society. "It's about time Instagram recognized the value of its top creators," said Pat McGrath, makeup artist and judge on the panel. "This program will inspire even more creators to push boundaries and innovate on the platform."
Current Status and Next Developments
The Ring awards program is set to launch next week, with 25 winners announced. Instagram has promised to provide more information about the winners and their achievements in the coming days.
In a statement, Mosseri said, "We're excited to see how this program will evolve over time and look forward to recognizing even more creators who are making a significant impact on culture and society."
*Reporting by Techcrunch.*
