Instagram has launched a new awards program to celebrate 25 creators who have made a cultural impact on the platform. The company announced on Monday that winners will receive a physical gold ring designed by English fashion designer Grace Wales Bonner, along with a digital golden ring around their profiles. They will also be able to design a custom Like button that appears when users like their posts.
The judges panel includes Instagram head Adam Mosseri, filmmaker Spike Lee, designer Marc Jacobs, YouTuber Marques Brownlee, actress Yara Shahidi, makeup artist Pat McGrath, and others. Unlike past creator programs, the initiative does not offer any monetary rewards.
The launch comes as Meta, Instagrams parent company, scales back creator payouts. Over the past three years, Meta has shut down several bonus and affiliate programs for Reels and profiles. A Kajabi survey found that creators experienced a 52 drop in brand deals in 2024, while Bank of America reported that paid partnerships are increasingly concentrated among top creators.
