Instagram announced the global rollout of “Instants,” a feature for sharing authentic, disappearing photos, after testing it with select users. Users can share photos with Close Friends or mutual followers, viewable only once for 24 hours. Inspired by Snapchat, Locket, and BeReal, Instants focuses on real-time, unedited content. Photos are captured using Instagram’s in-app camera, allowing text but no other edits. Meta is also testing Instants as a standalone app in select regions. Instants can be captured by tapping the mini photo stack in the Instagram inbox, where recipients can react, reply, and send an Instant back. Screenshots or recordings are not allowed. Shared Instants are stored in a private archive for up to a year, with options to compile into recaps for Instagram Stories. Users can undo and delete mistakenly shared Instants. To stop receiving Instants, users can swipe right on the inbox pile, with options to block or mute people. Instagram aims to return to casual, private photo-sharing among friends, though it may be late to this trend as users use Instagram Stories for quick updates.
Instagram’s New ‘Instants’ Feature Merges Snapchat and BeReal Elements
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