Ladies and gentleman can we have a drum roll, please! Instagram today launches a new feature that is set to make it easier for you to capture and share your daily moments… introducing Instagram Stories. The campaign for the new feature says “everyone has a story” and that’s exactly what Instagram Stories wants you to share, encouraging users to go beyond snapping photos and adding a comment. It wants you to share your experience, your visions.
The feature won’t replace the current normal profile page, it will be an additional feature that by the looks and sounds of it will give fellow social media rival Snapchat some serious competition.
According to a recent study, Snapchat has 100 million active users daily, while Instagram has 300 million active daily users.
The move to focus on video comes as no surprise as Instagram recently saw an 150 per cent growth in video usage with people reacting positively to short films. In fact, so popular is the reaction to video that you can now post 60 second films as opposed to the original 15 second limit.
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With Instagram Stories, you don’t have to worry about over-posting as photos and videos in your story disappear after 24 hours and don’t appear on your profile, and reactions and conversations stay private.
Yep, it’s very similar to Snapchat stories as you can also share your ‘story’ with who you want (and hide from who you want).
Here’s a a launch video showing you some of the cool highlights:
Just like on Snaphat you can manipulate images and videos to your taste. Though there’s no dog or fairy filters. However, if it’s drawing a heart over the face of a loved one, a halo over your cute niece or writing something funny next to a hilarious picture of your mate, all that is possible, allowing you to to edit every aspect.
Here’s a video example of how you can draw on Instagram Stories:
If you are happy on just using Instagram to share images on your profile that’s fine, you can still view your friend’s and their stories. One of the cool benefits of the new feature is that you can reply to a story with a message. When the video is finished an option to send a message appears on the bottom left had side. For example, if a friends shows off her baby taking it’s first steps you can send a message saying congratulations.
To view someone’s story, just tap on their profile photo. It’s easy to view stories at your own pace: tap to go back and forward or swipe to jump to another person’s story. Unlike regular posts, there are no likes or public comments.
The main aim for Instagram as a brand is to help build communities and this new feature allows users to connect in a more personal way.
Here’s a video example of how you can watch on Instagram Stories:
Here’s a video example of how you can send a message on Instagram Stories:
As we mentioned above, if you are worried about your privacy, fear not as the settings allow for you to pick and choose who sees your stories, and, more importantly, who doesn’t see it. For example, if you’ve got a funny animal picture you want to share with your work pals but not your boss, you can simply select to ‘hide’ them from the post.
When watching your own story, swipe up to check out who’s seen each photo and video. You can even choose to feature a particular part of your story by posting it on your profile.
Here’s a video example of how you can manage who sees your post on Instagram Stories:
What does set Instagram Stories apart from Snapchat is that it allows you to keep your story. Somethings might be too good to allow to disappear after 24 hours, so the feature to share to your profile is a genius move. Simply click at the bottom of the video and it gives you an option to share the post to save the video or share as a post.
Instagram Stories will begin rolling out globally today on iOS and Android.
Images & Videos: Supplied
