Meta’s Reality Labs is bringing a significant innovation to Instagram, transforming the traditionally flat social media experience into an immersive 3D format for Meta Quest users.

This week, the company announced a limited test that will allow select users to experience Instagram photos in a new dimension, leveraging AI view synthesis algorithms to add depth to standard 2D images.

The technology works by converting existing Instagram feed photos “pixel by pixel” without requiring any special 3D photography equipment from content creators. According to Meta’s blog post, this transformation creates a subtle sense of movement within images, making them appear more lifelike when viewed through a Quest headset.

Blurring Reality Boundaries Through AI

Examples provided by Meta illustrate the potential of this technology: viewers might perceive the arc of a soccer ball flying through the air or experience the intimacy of what the company describes as “the cutest little Eskimo kiss.” These subtle depth cues aim to make the social media browsing experience more engaging and immersive for VR users.

This development is particularly noteworthy as it appears Meta has beaten Android XR to implementing spatial content viewing capabilities. As reported by Android Central, the ability to make traditional content more immersive is something Android’s XR platform has been planning to deliver but hasn’t yet fully implemented.

Quest Interface Reimagination

The 3D Instagram feature is part of a broader update to the Meta Quest platform. Mixed News reports that the latest Quest update also introduces a revamped user interface called “Navigator,” representing what Meta describes as “the beginning of our reimagined OS.”

This interface overhaul appears designed to better integrate social and spatial experiences, positioning Meta’s VR platform as not just a gaming device but an extension of the company’s social media ecosystem. The update represents a strategic move to blend Meta’s various properties into a cohesive extended reality environment.

Strategic Implications for Meta’s Vision

The introduction of 3D Instagram photos aligns with Meta’s long-term vision of building an immersive metaverse where social interactions transcend traditional screen-based experiences. By transforming everyday social media content into spatial experiences, Meta is attempting to create more natural bridges between its traditional social platforms and its VR ecosystem.

This feature rollout comes at a time when social media companies face increasing scrutiny over data mining practices. While Meta’s announcement focuses on the user experience benefits, the technology necessarily involves sophisticated AI processing of user-generated content—a practice that has raised privacy concerns in the past, as Wikipedia notes regarding social media mining practices.

Testing and Availability Timeline

The 3D Instagram feature is currently available to only a limited group of testers, with Meta indicating that even those included in the test group might not immediately see the new functionality. The company has not provided specific timelines for when this feature might roll out more broadly.

A YouTube video released on May 23, 2025, demonstrates the new features, showing how the immersive photos appear when viewed through a Quest headset. The video highlights Meta’s ambition to “revolutionize” Instagram through AI-powered 3D photos alongside other Quest platform enhancements.

As this test progresses, it may signal a fundamental shift in how social media content is consumed, potentially setting new expectations for immersion across the industry and accelerating the convergence of traditional social platforms with extended reality experiences.