<span class="span-reading-time rt-reading-time" style="display: block;"><span class="rt-label rt-prefix">Reading Time: </span> <span class="rt-time"> 2</span> <span class="rt-label rt-postfix">minutes</span></span>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="960" height="540" src="https://octet-gatsby.in2.cdn-alpha.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Feature-Image-32-1.webp" alt="Instagram’s New Font" class="wp-image-28996" srcset="https://octet-gatsby.in2.cdn-alpha.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Feature-Image-32-1.webp 960w, https://octet-gatsby.in2.cdn-alpha.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Feature-Image-32-1-300x169.webp 300w, https://octet-gatsby.in2.cdn-alpha.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Feature-Image-32-1-768x432.webp 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" /></figure>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Synopsis</h4>



<p>Rosalía’s messy handwriting is now a font—and Instagram users are not having it.</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Key takeaways</h4>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>The Rosalía font on Instagram Stories is drawing widespread user backlash.</li>



<li>Designed to inspire “risk-taking,” it instead sparked irritation and memes.</li>



<li>Its chaotic style is being likened to punk rebellion—or a bad tattoo quote.</li>



<li>The backlash highlights just how emotionally loaded typography can be.</li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Introducing Rosalía: Instagram’s newest font</h2>



<p>Meta recently unveiled a new <a href="https://octet.design/journal/best-handwriting-fonts/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">handwritten font</a> named Rosalía, inspired by the handwriting of the Spanish pop star of the same name. </p>



<p>It has taken over Instagram Stories and Reels, much to the dismay of users across the platform. While <a href="https://business.facebook.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Meta</a> frames the rollout as a move to “inspire creativity and risk-taking,” many users are responding with fury, confusion, and memes.</p>



<p>In Meta’s own words:</p>



<p>“We know people value lightweight ways to be creative with features like Close Friends, Stories, Notes and more,” the company said. “So we’re partnering with Rosalía on a new font in Stories and Reels, inspired by her handwriting, to make things more fun.”</p>



<p>But fun isn’t the word people are using. One TikTok video mocking the font has already crossed 2 million views, asking plainly,</p>



<p>“What is this hideous new font you’re all using on Instagram?”</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Instagram added a new font" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gYxkwz-LD30?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div></figure>



<p>Another user took it further, declaring on Instagram that the font’s sudden popularity is akin to “the next pandemic.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Why the font feels so offensive (and personal)</h2>



<p>So what is it about this font that’s driving everyone mad?</p>



<p>It’s the faux-messy aesthetic—a chaotic, scribbly style that feels like it wants to be both edgy and cute but ends up in a confusing space between “punk rock rebellion” and “Live, Laugh, Love” wall art. It doesn&#8217;t help that users didn’t exactly ask for it—and suddenly, it’s everywhere.</p>



<p>There’s no major design flaw in terms of <a href="https://octet.design/journal/usability/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">usability</a>. It’s legible. It’s bold. But fonts aren’t always about function. They’re about feeling. And the <a href="https://www.kapwing.com/resources/how-to-get-rosalia-font-on-instagram-2025-viral-trend/#:~:text=The%20Rosal%C3%ADa%20font%20is%20one,to%20both%20Reels%20and%20Stories." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Rosalía font</a>, apparently, feels like a misstep.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Typography is an emotional trigger</h2>



<p>If there’s one takeaway from this chaos, it’s this: <a href="https://octet.design/journal/typography/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">typography</a> is <a href="https://www.interaction-design.org/literature/topics/emotional-design?srsltid=AfmBOoqTniQK5_G8JaPKU8IIeKAHM3gmwrGnmg_2uzvG0ZxWEM86W4L-" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">emotional design</a>. Fonts don’t just carry words—they carry vibes. When they feel forced, or unauthentic, or overly branded, audiences push back hard.</p>



<p>And this backlash is a classic example. Fonts, unlike layout or color, tap directly into cultural associations and personal taste. A bad font can ruin a brand—or in this case, an entire <a href="https://octet.design/journal/user-experience/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">user experience</a>.</p>



<p>As we’ve seen time and again in the design world, typography isn’t neutral. It’s loaded. It’s expressive. And if you get it wrong, people won’t just scroll past—they’ll fight back.</p>
<footer class="author-bio-section" ><div class="author-flex"><div class="author-image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="90" height="90" src="https://octet-gatsby.in2.cdn-alpha.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/IMG_1457-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-90x90 size-90x90" alt="" /></div><div class="author-info"><div class="author-name"><strong>Jayshree Ochwani</strong></div><p class="author-bio">Jayshree Ochwani is a seasoned content strategist and communications professional passionate about crafting compelling and impactful messaging. With years of experience creating high-quality content across various platforms, she brings a keen eye for detail and a unique ability to transform ideas into engaging narratives that captivate and resonate with diverse audiences.

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She excels at understanding her clients&#039; unique needs and developing targeted messaging that drives meaningful engagement. Whether through brand storytelling, marketing campaigns, or thought leadership content, her strategic mindset ensures that every piece is designed to inform and inspire action.
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