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Journalism of Courage
Everyone is trying to copy/figure out Snapchat, and the list now includes Instagram. The popular photo-sharing app has decided to roll out Stories, which are photos and videos that disappear after 24 hours. Yes, this is pretty similar to what Snapchat offers with its Stories feature, (even the name is the exact same), which was first launched in 2013 on the instant messaging app. In Snapchat’s case Stories have proved to be an immensely popular feature, and some of these tend to go viral, and get uploaded on YouTube, and other platforms, including Instagram and Facebook.
Stories on Instagram will work just slightly pretty much exactly like they do on Snapchat. Users can share multiple videos and photos on the app, which will appear in a slideshow format called ‘Your Story’, explains the Instagram blogpost. The post adds that with Stories, users won’t have to worry about overposting. Yes folks there is such a thing as posting too many photos in one go on the app.
The blogpost reads, “Instead, you can share as much as you want throughout the day — with as much creativity as you want. You can bring your story to life in new ways with text and drawing tools. The photos and videos will disappear after 24 hours and won’t appear on your profile grid or in feed.” So just like Snapchat, the Stories will disappear after 24 hours, and a user can add texts and draw on them to make these fun. Don’t be surprised if Snapchat’s filters also make their way into Instagram in some form.
Facebook, which owns Instagram, has been pushing people to put together slideshows and stories on the native Facebook app as well, and now it appears that Instagram will be doing the same. The latest feature can be seen as an attempt to boost user engagement on Instagram, and making sure it doesn’t get beaten by Snapchat.
The blogpost also says users will be able to see Stories from people they follow in a bar at the top of their feed. If there is a new Story, a user’s profile photo will have a colourful ring around it, indicating this.
So how can a user view Stories on Instagram? Just tap on your friend or favourite Instagram personality’s profile photo, and you should be able to their Story. Users can tap back and forward to see the different Stories, and then swipe ahead to see another person’s Story. Again this sounds very much like what one would already do on Snapchat.
So how will Stories work? If you see a + symbol on the top left of your screen, that means the Stories option has gone live for you. Else just swipe left from anywhere in Feed and the Stories mode will appear. Just like you do on Snapchat, where Stories get their own dedicated tab. Once you are in Stories mode, tap the Round button at the bottom to “take a photo, or tap and hold to record a video.” A user can edit this photo with text, drawings before sharing.
Users can also upload pictures or videos from the camera roll on Stories, by just swiping down on the screen and selecting what they’d like to share. There’s also an undo option to remove any effect you might have applied. Once done, just tap to share this Story. Instagram’s blog adds, “If you want to comment on something you see, you can tap and send a private message to that person on Instagram Direct. Unlike regular posts, there are no likes or public comments.” So in case you were hoping Stories will get you some additional hearts on Instagram, it won’t happen.
Instagram Stories will have the same privacy settings as your account. If your account is private, the Story will only be visible to your followers. However users can hide their entire Story from a specific follower or followers. A user can also “feature a particular part of your story by posting it on your profile,” says Instagram. The update will rolling out globally on iOS and Android.
We’ll have to wait for this update to decide how much we like this feature, and how easy is it for users to figure out. Stories is obviously a smart way to boost engagement on Instagram, which has crossed 500 million monthly active users. It’s also a way to keep the app relevant, especially at a time Snapchat and its filters are taking over the Internet.
