Instagram revives real-time sharing with its new app Instants

Instagram announced its new feature called Instants, which aims to bring temporary photo sharing to the fore again. The company integrated this system into the existing Instagram application and prepared an independent mobile application with the same name. Focusing on users taking instant photos and sharing them with their close circle, the structure aims to revive the more spontaneous usage habit of Instagram in its early days. Shared photos disappear after viewing, although the contents can be stored in the user’s archive for a year. Users can later share these photos as a summary story if they wish.

The new feature is accessible directly from the message box within the Instagram application. Users can open the Instants section by tapping the photo stack icon at the bottom right of the DM screen. One of the striking aspects of the system is that it is kept quite simple. Only descriptions can be added to photos; No filter, editing tool or effect options are offered. In addition, there is no support for uploading images from the camera roll. Thus, the aim is to have the content shot entirely at that moment.

When sharing photos, users can share the post with their close friends or people they follow. A short-term retrieval option is also offered after sending. In this way, users can remove a photo they accidentally shared without the other party seeing it. On the other hand, there is also the option to temporarily mute incoming Instants shares. Holding down on the relevant icon in the message box and swiping it to the right stops the sharing, while the opposite movement makes it visible again.

It was also announced that Instagram has been testing a separate Instants application in certain countries for a while. In the company’s blog post, it was stated that users gave feedback that they wanted to access the camera faster and easier. This statement also brought to the fore the criticism that the main Instagram application, to which many features have been added for a long time, has become complicated. It seems that the aim is to provide users with direct access to the camera experience with the standalone Instants application.

Instagram Instants app focuses on young user safety

Instagram’s existing security and privacy systems continue to be used on the Instants side. Standard tools such as blocking, muting and account restriction are also active on the new platform. In addition, parental controls for young user accounts are automatically activated on Instants. Security measures such as blocking screenshots and screen recording are offered as part of the system. In addition, access is limited by default for young users between 22:00 at night and 07:00 in the morning. If a teenager using a supervised account downloads the Instants app, parents are notified.

This is not the first time Instagram has attempted in this field. The company had previously brought the temporary content format popularized by Snapchat to a wide range of users with the Stories feature. In addition, a fast photo sharing application called Bolt was launched in 2014. A few years ago, the BeReal-like Candid Stories feature was also tested. Despite this, it seems that Instants aims to offer a different user experience than previous attempts with its simple structure and direct instant sharing approach.

It is evaluated that the new system can create an alternative especially for users who want to get away from the intense algorithmic content flow. Removing filters and editing tools makes posts look more natural, while allowing only snapshots strengthens the spontaneous use of the platform. However, it is also known that Instagram has had difficulty achieving lasting success with similar concepts in the past. What kind of place Instants will gain in user habits in the long term will become clear in the coming period.