Instagram launches short notes and more
Companies copy each other all the time. Instagram copies Snapchat, Instagram copies TikTok, Instagram copies… Twitter? Yeah, we’re kind of confused too.
What’s new: Instagram just announced Notes, which are short, text-based posts that can be sent to your followers instead of the usual image or reel. Sounds familiar? Well, they even have a character limit.
Notes can be shared by going to the top of the inbox, and from there you can select your followers or close friends list, write a note, and click send. It will be visible for 24 hours.
What’s else? Notes are the most notable of a number of features announced which include Group profiles and Candid Stories. Group profiles are kind of self-explanatory whilst Candid stories are Instagram's attempts to add BeReal style functionality. Instagram will send daily notifications prompting users to share their own Candid in the spirit of "sharing what you're doing right now."
But why? According to Instagram, these features have been in the works for a while and users seemed to enjoy it: “[D]uring testing, we learned that people liked having a lightweight, easy way to share what’s on their mind and start conversations.” However, it wouldn’t be wild to consider that Instagram could simply be capitalizing on user migration in the hopes of capturing those leaving Twitter for other social platforms like Mastadon.
It also seems to be a response to user backlash aimed at algorithm-generated, non-personal content; an attempt to inject more functionality that allows users to keep up with their real-world friends without sacrificing the obvious gains of the feed. Will this calm the cries for the good old days of Instagram?
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