Instagram launches ‘Instants’ for Android, a Snapchat clone
▼ Summary
– Instagram launched a new app called Instants that replicates a core Snapchat feature, allowing users to send disappearing photos.
– Instants was previously a feature within Instagram’s messages section called “Shots,” but it is now a separate app for quicker, in-the-moment sharing.
– The app opens directly to the camera, lets users send photos, and automatically deletes them after 24 hours.
– Photos shared through Instants can also be viewed in the main Instagram app, providing cross-app access.
– The Instants app is available on Android and iOS, though region-dependent, and is designed for fast, no-edit sharing.
Instagram has added another app to its growing portfolio, rolling out “Instants” for Android , a feature that closely mirrors a key function of Snapchat.
Now available for download, Instagram Instants is essentially a standalone version of what was previously called “Shots.” That feature originally lived inside Instagram’s direct messages, offering users a way to share quick, spur-of-the-moment photos. Despite being part of the platform for some time, it never gained widespread attention , likely why Instagram decided to give it its own dedicated home.
When you open Instants, you log in with your existing Instagram account and land directly on the camera screen. From there, you can capture and send fleeting moments to friends. Like Snapchat, those photos vanish after 24 hours , and once they’re gone, they’re gone for good.
According to Instagram, the app is designed to let users “share disappearing photos with friends” and “connect with your favorite people over life’s little moments.” The company describes it as “real life, real quick,” emphasizing speed and simplicity: no editing, just instant sharing. Anything sent through Instants can also be viewed inside the main Instagram app, so users don’t have to juggle multiple apps to keep up.
The new experience is available on both Android and iOS, though availability may vary by region. It feels like a deliberate move to capture the spontaneous, ephemeral sharing that made Snapchat a household name. By carving out a separate space for this functionality, Instagram is betting that a faster, more focused tool will resonate with users who want to share without the polish of a fully curated feed.
(Source: 9to5google.com)
