Meta Instagram Instants: As per recent reports, Meta is exploring new capabilities for disappearing messages. The report suggests that the company is developing an internal prototype, namely “Instants”. It is designed to let users share disappearing messages, photos and videos with friends. It will be kind of similar to how Snapchat’s use case, Meta’s Instants App: What the Report Says
A Meta spokesperson confirmed to Business Insider that the internal prototype of Instants’ standalone app is currently in development. Also that the app will focus on sending and receiving disappearing photos and videos similar to Snapchat’s approach. Although Meta clarified that the app is not being tested externally at the current stage.
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Instants Feature Coming to Instagram
The disappearing feature might not stay limited to the Instants app. As per reports, the feature is also being tested within the Instagram app as well. Mobile developer Alessandro Paluzzi discovered references to Instants on Instagram’s “Also from Meta” page, where it was described as a way to share disappearing photos with friends.
Formerly known as Shots, this feature will be in limited countries for testing. It will allow users to send the disappearing media via DMs (Direct Messages). It will be intended to vanish after being opened, and it will expire 24 hours after being sent. Reports also highlighted that Instants can only be sent to followers who follow each other back and cannot be edited.
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How This Compares to Existing Instagram Features
There are already some features similar to temporary messaging tools such as “View Once” photos and videos, and even the vanish mode in DMs. Instants will be an addition to these features, and it will potentially streamline the disappearing media and make it similar to how the Snapchat experience is.