Why Instagram carousels sometimes start on the second slide

Do you ever wonder why, when you’re scrolling through Instagram, the second photo of a carousel pops up first?

According to Instagram head Adam Mosseri, that’s often because you might have seen that carousel already but didn’t swipe — so you’re getting a second chance.

“If someone sees your carousel post but they don’t swipe, we’ll often give that carousel a second chance and automatically move to that second piece of media for the viewer,” Mosseri said in an Instagram Reel.

He added that carousels “often get more reach than photos” in part because of this second chance posting, but also because “multiple pieces of media are going to mean more interactions with your carousel posts, and more interactions is going to mean more reach on average.”

Beyond posting a carousel, Mosseri also said you might want to “add music” to the post if you’re trying to increase reach.

“I highly advise you to add music so it’s eligible to show up in video experiences, like the Reels tab,” Mosseri said. “Now, don’t feel like you have to force it, but if you’re on the fence and you can go either way, choosing a carousel over a photo will often help you get more reach.”

Happy posting!