Justin Bieber Debuts New Instagram Handle and Floods Feed with Baby Jack Photos

Justin Bieber is redefining his online identity—both as a father and as a man in transition.

On Thursday, June 26, the 31-year-old pop icon surprised fans with a subtle but symbolic update: a change to his Instagram username. Formerly known on the platform by his full name, @justinbieber, the Grammy-winning singer now goes by @lilbieber. The change coincided with a flurry of Instagram posts—12 in a single day—including several tender snapshots of his infant son, Jack Blues.

Though the new handle sparked speculation, Bieber hasn’t publicly explained the change. Still, the move seems to mark a new chapter for the star, one increasingly defined by fatherhood, introspection, and an ongoing quest for healing.

In one of the most widely shared posts, Bieber cradles baby Jack as the little one sits inside a cardboard box filled with colorful ball pit balls. The sweet moment, simply captioned with three standing man emojis, offers fans a glimpse into Bieber’s private world as a first-time father. He and wife Hailey Bieber welcomed Jack in August 2024, and while the couple has remained relatively low-key about their family life, recent weeks have seen a noticeable uptick in baby-related content.

Just days earlier, on June 24, Bieber shared a black-and-white portrait of Jack, and on Father’s Day, June 15, he posted a touching image of Hailey and Jack “playing” the piano together. Another intimate photo from June 13 showed the pop star gently holding his son at home.

But the sweet family images have been juxtaposed with a string of emotionally charged and cryptic posts that paint a more complicated picture.

Earlier this month, on June 11, Bieber posted a smiling black-and-white selfie with a caption that hinted at inner struggles: “The secret in life is forgiveness.” The post, soundtracked by The Little Dippers’ “Forever,” was part of a carousel featuring a series of blurry, introspective selfies.

Then, on Father’s Day itself, Bieber shared a string of text messages—screenshots of a raw exchange with a friend he ultimately decided to cut off. In the messages, he expressed deep frustration over being judged for his emotional responses, writing, “If you don’t like my anger, you don’t like me,” and, “My anger is a response to pain I have been thru.”

The following day, he posted another emotional message, seemingly aimed at those offering unsolicited advice. “People keep telling me to heal,” he wrote. “Don’t you think if I could have fixed myself, I would have already?”

“I know I’m broken,” he continued. “I know I have anger issues. I tried to do the work my whole life to be like the people who told me I needed to be fixed like them. And it just keeps making me more tired and more angry.”

These posts have fueled renewed interest in Bieber’s mental health, something he’s spoken about publicly in the past. In recent years, the singer has been candid about his battles with depression, anxiety, and the long-term psychological effects of early fame.

Now, as a father, Bieber appears to be wrestling with how to evolve—both for himself and for his son.

His decision to share so many photos of Jack, paired with deeply vulnerable captions, suggests a man trying to reclaim control over his narrative. Gone is the carefully curated image of teen stardom. In its place is a more unfiltered, if not conflicted, voice—one that embraces both joy and pain.

The change to @lilbieber may seem like a small shift, but for fans and observers, it may signify something deeper: a return to his roots, or perhaps a nod to the boy behind the fame who’s now raising a boy of his own.

For now, Justin Bieber is letting his posts speak for themselves—each baby photo, each emotional caption adding another layer to a story still very much in the making. Whether this marks a long-term rebrand or a fleeting experiment, one thing is clear: Bieber’s latest chapter is as personal as it gets.