Instagram unveils a new Instants feature that has a Snapchat-like twist. This feature will let users capture quick, casual snaps and share them with friends. Instagram is one of the most loved and used social media platforms in the world. Its creators are constantly evolving it to keep up with current times and cater to the attention-deficit younger consumer base.
Instagram unveils new Instants feature for photo-sharing
Instagram drops a new Instants feature that allows users to share authentic photos with only their close friends and mutual followers. Recipients can only view the photo once, and it disappears after twenty-four hours. Mutual followers cannot screenshot or record photos from the user’s account.
Notably, the new app is heavily inspired by Snapchat, Locket, and BeReal, allowing users to maintain privacy and exclusivity to a large extent. Instagram is usually a platform for curated, heavily edited photos, emphasizing on polished content to gain more likes and followers. However, Instants will allow users to be free and share quick, unedited snapshots that don’t necessarily require much thinking.
The format doesn’t allow uploads from the user’s camera, and users can only use the in-app camera. Instagram allows users to store their Instants in a private archive that they can see for up to one year (via Tech Crunch).
Meta is testing Instants as a standalone app in places like Italy and Spain to gauge its success. Instagram was initially launched to simply share photos and connect with friends. However, the platform is now inundated with ads and influencer content. Meta aims to bring back the magic of simpler times through this new feature.
Users took to X to share their take on Instants. One user quipped, “Instagram really looked at Snapchat, BeReal and Close Friends stories and said ‘combine everything.’” A second user commented, “Instagram really said ‘BeReal + Snapchat had a baby.’ Instants looks fun, but we all know everyone’s gonna have a second phone ready for screenshots anyway. Who’s actually gonna use this with Close Friends only?”
A third user noted, “Instants sound pretty cool—kinda like a more private version of Stories. Curious to see how people will use them with their close friends.”
Originally reported by Anwaya Mane on Mandatory.
