What is Instagram's new feature Instants all about?
Social media giant Instagram has begun rolling out a new feature, Instants, which allows users to share quick snaps ‘in the moment.’
The new addition to the platform was rolled out this week, with Meta also testing an individual Instants app.
Instants are somewhat similar to the Stories feature, except once viewed they can no longer be viewed.
Pic: Primakov/Shutterstock
They also cannot be edited with filters, though you can add a caption before posting.
The pictures can be shared to your Close Friends, or to your mutual followers (followers you follow back), and will appear in the Messages tab of the app.
When in the Messages tab, users will see a plus sign in a grey box on the bottom right corner of the screen.
Pic: Instagram
Clicking the + will enable users to take pictures, while dragging the box across will show any Instants from friends already shared.
Once the Instant has been viewed, it can not be viewed again.
The social media giant said: ‘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.
Pic: Instagram
‘Friends can react and reply, with replies going straight to DMs.’
There is no option to see who has viewed your Instant — unless they react or respond, of course.
To get rid of seeing Instants, you can hold down the stack in your inbox and swipe right to temporarily stop seeing them.
To bring Instants back, hold down the same spot and swipe left.
A standalone Instants app is also available, which Instagram says is an ‘easier way’ to use the feature.
Instants via the app can be viewed on Instagram, and vice versa.
Instagram explained: ‘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.’
Social media users have been reacting to the latest addition to Instagram, with one person wondering: ‘The f*ck is an “Instagram Instant”?’
Another noted: ‘I don’t understand the point of Instants by Instagram. Isn’t that just stories?’
A third revealed: ‘Turned that insta instant sh*t off INSTANTLY.’
