KakaoTalk's Instagram-Inspired Overhaul Faces Outrage

Major Overhaul of KakaoTalk Sparks User Backlash

Since the afternoon of the 23rd of last month, KakaoTalk has been undergoing a major update. This is the most significant change in the 15-year history of the popular messaging app. While many users have appreciated features that enhance the chatting experience, they have expressed strong dissatisfaction with the redesign of the first tab, known as the "Friends" tab, which now resembles Instagram's interface.

After the update, the traditional alphabetical (A-Z) list of contacts has disappeared from the main screen. Instead, the space is now filled with user-uploaded posts. This shift has led to widespread criticism across online platforms. Users have shared their frustrations on blogs, forums, and social media, with comments such as, “Why did KakaoTalk become Instagram?” “Shocked by the overhaul of the national messenger KakaoTalk,” “It’s too inconvenient to view,” “They’re doing it anyway even after we said not to change it like Instagram,” “They abandoned strengths and amplified weaknesses,” and “Do Kakao employees want to see their bosses’ faces blown up on the main screen?”

Industry insiders have noted that complaints are flooding into Kakao’s customer service channels. Some users have even started sharing methods to block the update. On iPhones, for instance, users can go to “Settings > Apps > App Store” and disable “App Updates.” On the Google Play Store, they can navigate to “Play Store > KakaoTalk > tap the three dots in the top right > disable auto-update.” However, there is growing concern that eventually, KakaoTalk may restrict chatting unless users update the app, forcing them to comply.

Despite the changes, users can still access their friend list in alphabetical order. To do this, they need to tap on the "Friends" tab on the main screen and then switch the “Update Order” setting to “Alphabetical Order (A-Z).” While this option exists, many find the process cumbersome and less intuitive than before.

On the positive side, users have welcomed new features that enhance the chatting experience. These include “Message Editing” and “Chat Room Categorization,” which have been praised as services that reflect user feedback. However, the redesign of the interface, which is unrelated to the core function of chatting, has sparked significant backlash.

Kakao has responded to the criticism, stating that they will listen to user feedback and make necessary improvements. The company has yet to provide specific details on how they plan to incorporate these suggestions. As the debate continues, it remains to be seen how Kakao will balance innovation with user expectations in the future.