Post-labelling and UI element grouping are the two core processes refined for screen readers.
Instagram released a comprehensive summary of how it's upgrading its screen reader systems to deliver a uniform in-app experience to all users. To improve accessibility for the visually handicapped, and those who use screen readers, Instagram optimised its display with a simplified layout and process.
The Accessibility team of Instagram simplified the post layout, lowered the number of cues for screen readers to translate posts. It also compressed the “attention hierarchy” to only two items, namely the media and the post action.
As a result, the number of actions required to scroll through a post has been reduced from 30 to just two. Moreover, post actions such as likes, and comments have been moved into a single bottom sheet.
[2 minute read]
