Instagram has launched Instants, a new disappearing content feature similar to WhatsApp’s, allowing users to share casual moments with close friends, which can be archived for up to a year and shared as stories later. Picture: MARTIN LELIEVRE / AFP
Image: Picture: MARTIN LELIEVRE / AFP
In line with the rapidly-evolving nature of social media and technology, Instagram has launched a new disappearing photo app called Instants.
Much like a feature already available in WhatsApp in which a user is only able to view the media once and is unable to take screenshots, Instants will do much the same for the Meta-owned app.
In fact, it works almost exactly the same as the feature from it’s sister app WhatsApp.
Where it differs though, is that the content will still be available in the sender’s archive for up to a year and can also be shared as stories at a later stage.
Though the Instants Instagram app is also said to be preparing to test the app in a number of countries on iOS and Android.
Head of Instagram Adam Mosseri said: “This week, we are launching a new feature on Instagram called Instants, which is a way to share casual moments with your close friends. How does it work? Well, you go to the DM tab in this little pile of these photos in the bottom right.
“And if you tap on that, you can actually see Instants from your friends and also send a photo to your friends. When you tap send it immediately goes to either your close friend's list or your followers that you follow back, whichever you prefer. Once people see that photo, it disappears and they can't screenshot it.
“And so what we've seen in the testing in countries around the world, Italy, the Dominican Republic, Thailand, and others, is that people tend to use instants to share much more casual, much more authentic moments about their day. And we know that this type of sharing with personal moments with friends is a core part of what makes Instagram, Instagram. But we also know that a lot of people don't really share a lot to their profile grids anymore.
“So we're always looking for new ways, like Instants, to give people, to connect with around personal content with the people that matter to them most.”