Mark Zuckerberg (File Image)
Instagram will require its US-based employees to work from the office five days a week starting February 2, 2026, marking one of the tech industry’s strictest return-to-office mandates since the pandemic. Instagram chief Adam Mosseri announced the policy shift in an internal memo, emphasizing that in-person collaboration is essential for creativity and competitiveness as the photo-sharing platform faces intensifying market pressures. Beyond the return-to-office requirement, Mosseri announced sweeping operational changes designed to accelerate decision-making and reduce bureaucracy.
All recurring meetings will be canceled every six months and only reinstated if deemed “absolutely necessary, according to the Sources newsletter memo. Most notably, he declared that Instagram wants employees focused on “building great products, not preparing for meetings. Employees are encouraged to decline meetings that conflict with focus time and to make one-on-one meetings biweekly by default.
The Instagram chief also mandated that product overviews should feature working prototypes rather than slide presentations, arguing that prototypes provide better proof of concept and understanding of social dynamics. Strategy documents should be limited to three pages maximum.