Instagram Launches ‘Ring’ Award to Celebrate Top Creators
Instagram announced on October 6, 2025, the launch of a new awards program designed to recognize content creators who significantly influence culture and break creative barriers globally. The initiative will honor 25 creators next week with a unique gold ring and exclusive profile features.
The awards, dubbed the ‘Ring’ program, highlight Instagram’s commitment to celebrating innovation and cultural impact within its creator community without offering direct financial compensation.
Distinguished Panel of Judges
The judging panel for the inaugural ‘Ring’ awards features prominent figures across various creative industries, including Instagram’s head Adam Mosseri, renowned director Spike Lee, fashion designer Marc Jacobs, influential YouTuber Marques Brownlee, actress Yara Shahidi, and acclaimed makeup artist Pat McGrath.
Such a diverse panel underscores the program’s emphasis on cultural breadth and creative excellence.
Award Components and Recognition
Recipients will receive a physical custom-designed gold ring, crafted by English fashion designer Grace Wales Bonner. Additionally, winners will have a digital golden ring displayed around their Instagram profile and gain the ability to customize a unique “Like” button for their feed posts, enhancing their digital presence.
Instagram emphasized that the recognition is symbolic, with no accompanying monetary reward, focusing instead on prestige and creative validation.
Context Amid Shifts in Creator Monetization
This announcement coincides with a period of retrenchment in Meta’s creator monetization programs. Over recent years, Meta has scaled back various payout initiatives, including the discontinuation of ad revenue sharing from profile ads, the cessation of Reels bonuses in 2023, and the termination of affiliate marketing bonuses in 2022.
Industry data further reflects challenges in the creator economy. A 2024 survey by Kajabi documented a 52% decline in brand deals for creators, while Bank of America highlighted increased competition and concentration of paid partnerships among top-tier creators.
Against this backdrop, Instagram’s new awards program serves as a symbolic gesture to recognize and encourage creative leadership without direct financial incentives.
“This award is all about celebrating those who aren’t afraid to take creative chances and do it their way. Those who bring people together over their creativity, and deserve recognition,” Instagram stated in its official blog post.
Winners to Be Revealed October 16
The identities of the 25 award recipients will be announced on October 16, 2025, marking the first iteration of what Instagram hopes will become a prestigious cultural accolade akin to an Oscars-style recognition for content creators—albeit without a formal ceremony.
FinOracleAI — Market View
Instagram’s introduction of the ‘Ring’ award reflects a strategic pivot towards symbolic recognition amid a contracting creator monetization landscape. This move prioritizes cultural capital and brand prestige over direct financial incentives.
- Opportunities: Enhances creator loyalty and engagement through prestige; fosters community and cultural influence; differentiates Instagram in a competitive social media market.
- Risks: Potential backlash from creators demanding monetary rewards; may not sufficiently offset recent declines in creator income; symbolic awards may lack long-term motivational impact.
Impact: The initiative is a neutral to mildly positive market signal, emphasizing Instagram’s focus on cultural leadership in the creator economy while navigating monetization challenges.
