Instagram is launching 'Instants', a new photo-sharing feature allowing users to share fleeting, uneditable photos with close friends or mutual followers. This feature rolls out globally and is accessible from the Instagram app's inbox or through a standalone app currently being tested in select countries.
Feature Details
Within the Instagram app, users can find Instants in their direct message inbox, identified by an icon or a photo stack in the bottom-right corner. After posting, friends can react with emojis or reply via direct messages, but the photo disappears after viewing. Instants vanish after 24 hours and are protected from screenshots or screen recordings.
Users can archive their Instants for up to a year, with options to reshare as recaps in Instagram Stories or delete them. An undo option is available immediately after posting.
Separate App Testing
The Instants mobile app is being tested in Italy and Spain, offering direct camera access with only an Instagram account needed. Instagram stated, "Instants shared on the separate app will show up for friends on Instagram and vice versa. We’re trying this separate app out to see how our community uses it, and we’ll continue to evolve it as we learn more."
User Behavior Insights
Instagram boss Adam Mosseri noted that Instants encourage sharing of more casual, authentic daily moments, a core part of Instagram's appeal. He acknowledged a decrease in profile grid sharing among users.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/tech/929958/instagram-instants-photos-disappearing-app
