Instagram has launched a new feature called Instants, allowing users to share disappearing photos through both the main Instagram app and a dedicated app under the same name. These photos vanish after friends view them and can be archived for up to a year, enabling users to compile them into stories later.
Users can access Instants from their direct message (DM) inbox by tapping on a photo stack. The feature limits modifications to photo captions only; there are no editing tools or filters available, and users cannot upload images from their camera roll.
Instants enables users to select recipients among close friends or mutual followers. An undo button is included, allowing users to retract an Instant before it is viewed by friends. Additionally, friends’ Instants can be snoozed or restored by swiping, providing a level of control over what content users see.
Instagram has been testing the dedicated Instants app in selected countries on iOS and Android. The company stated, “We’ve been testing Instants for a while, and one thing we heard was that people wanted a quicker, easier way to get into the camera.” This suggests potential recognition that the main Instagram app may be perceived as bloated.
Both the Instants feature and app incorporate existing safety and privacy protections under Instagram, including options for blocking and muting users. For teen accounts, parental supervision features are automatically applied, encompassing shared time limits and safety tools, such as blocks on screenshots and screen recordings. Parents will receive notifications when their teens download the Instants app.
This launch is not Instagram’s first attempt at ephemeral sharing. Previous efforts included the 2014 app Bolt and a BeReal-inspired feature called Candid Stories, released in 2019.
