Instagram has unveiled a new wordmark, replacing the cursive lettering that had sat at the top of the app for the past decade, according to The Verge. Engadget also reports that Instagram head Adam Mosseri revealed the updated mark on Thursday and described it as a brand refresh. The change is specific to Instagram’s wordmark rather than a reported overhaul of the app’s functionality. The Verge says the previous wordmark had become recognizable over its 10-year run, while the new version mixes cursive-like forms with more print-style lettering. Mosseri framed the change as overdue. According to The Verge, he said the wordmark at the top of the app had not changed in 10 years and called the new design “cleaner and more modern,” while still referencing Instagram’s original identity and craft. Engadget similarly attributes the cleaner, more modern rationale to Mosseri. The early response has centered less on strategy and more on readability. Both The Verge and Engadget note that some viewers say the new lettering appears to read “Instagzam,” a criticism aimed at how the semi-connected letterforms render at a glance. The Verge reports that Mosseri also posted the update to Threads to see the reaction, suggesting Instagram expected at least some debate around the change. The outlet says comments on Instagram and Threads have already included criticism of the new mark, mourning for the older cursive version, and mixed positive responses. For Instagram, this is a small interface and branding change with unusually high visibility. The wordmark appears at the top of the app, which is why even a typography change can become a public referendum on taste, legibility, and brand continuity. Who benefits: Instagram gets a refreshed mark that Mosseri says is cleaner and more modern. Who's exposed: Instagram is exposed to user backlash if the new lettering continues to be seen as less legible. The old cursive wordmark had accumulated familiarity, which makes any replacement easier to criticize.