What is an “Instant”?
Last week, Instagram released their newest feature: “Instants”, another way of sharing photos on both Instagram and its new “Instants” app. The idea is to share candid and authentic photos which can only be viewed once, with the intention of “no edits, no pressure, just life as it happens”.
How to share an “Instant”?
Found in the messaging tab, “Instants” appear in the bottom right of your messages list.
Here you can view “Instants” shared with you and you can capture one yourself. With the in-app camera, images are taken which can be shared to close friends or mutual followers for 24 hours. Once viewed, they disappear completely.
With this update, users are unable to see who has viewed their “Instant”. However, those who do see it can react and reply in the same way you would a story or post. Each user is given a personal archive which houses their “Instants” for a year, which is only visible to them.
What makes it different?
Unlike other features, the photos shared cannot be edited or adjusted, but captions can be added. Instagram have labelled it as “a new way to share in the moment – with spontaneous, unfiltered photos– with friends”. This fun and playful addition allows users to add authentic updates on what they’re up to.
With this new feature, Instagram have added restrictions on screenshots or screen recording, with a message that appears when you try to do so.
If “Instants” is something you are not interested in, it can be switched off in your Instagram settings.
What are our thoughts?
Here at ads creative solutions, our Digital Marketing Executives have been experimenting with the feature and exploring its uses. We feel it is a fun way to send and view images in a more casual way than stories or posts. It appeals more to personal Instagram accounts than business profiles since businesses are not likely to have “close friends” lists or follow their followers back. This update highlights Instagram’s continued focus on maintaining authenticity as a key element of the platform.
Information sourced: Instants announcement.
