Some of you might recall that just last month, Instagram launched a standalone app called Instants. If you’re not a fan of downloading another app that just does one thing, then you’re in luck because Instagram has announced that it is now integrating the feature directly into the Instagram app itself.
Instagram brings Instants to the app
Just as a quick refresher for those who missed our earlier coverage, Instagram Instants is a feature that lets users share photos that last 24 hours. Now, this sounds a lot like disappearing messages or Instagram Stories. For the most part, it is, which is why we feel like it’s a feature that’s dead-on-arrival (more on that later).
However, Instagram says the main selling point here is that you cannot edit these photos. Photographs must be taken using the app or feature. This is unlike Stories or disappearing messages, where you can choose and edit photos from your phone’s camera roll. We assume the feature is designed to make sharing photos more “raw” and “authentic.”
Also, according to Instagram, “Instants are ephemeral to viewers, but are saved in your archive for up to a year and can be reshared as a recap to Stories. Friends can react and reply, with replies going straight to DMs.”
Is this a feature that’s dead-on-arrival?
That being said, we’re not sure if this is really that great of a feature. Like we said, users can already post Stories and use disappearing messages for short-lived content. We’re not sure if having a dedicated app or an integrated feature is necessary. Plus, there are other ways for users to share photos beyond Instagram.
There’s WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and a ton of other messaging apps. Plus, it looks like Instagram has once again “borrowed” from its competitors like Snapchat and BeReal. Users from those platforms can just as easily do the same. Maybe it will take off, maybe it won’t, but it’s hard to blame Instagram for trying.
The platform has been around for a while and it definitely needs new features to keep users interested. Whether Instants sticks around and becomes a mainstay remains to be seen. Or maybe it’ll just end up in the graveyard like Meta’s other experiments.
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