Instagram's head, Mosseri, noted that cover photos and thumbnails have minimal influence on how content is discovered and consumed, a view similarly echoed by YouTube.
While aesthetically pleasing cover photos and thumbnails are valued by creators and brands, their actual effect on reach and engagement may be minimal.
Recent updates across platforms are empowering creators with more options for aesthetic customization, like Instagram's feature allowing edits to Reel covers post-publication.
On TikTok, thumbnails play a unique role, with many users treating the platform like a search engine where effective cover images can enhance visibility in search results.
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