Instagram has launched a new feature called Instants, and users are already expressing their displeasure. The feature is designed to allow users to share spontaneous, unfiltered photos instantly with their followers. However, the immediate posting functionality has caused frustration and even embarrassment for some users who were unaware that their pictures would be sent out right away.
How Instants Works
Instants are located in the Instagram inbox, accessible via the bottom right corner. Users may receive notifications when a friend shares an Instant. The feature may not appear immediately upon opening the app; users might need to update and restart the app for it to show up. Once available, users can click a button to create a new Instant, add a caption, and take a photo. Crucially, clicking the white button sends the photo to followers instantly. An undo button appears automatically, allowing users to retract the image before it is shared, but many users have missed this option.
Privacy and Parental Controls
Instagram has emphasized that Instants are ephemeral—they appear alongside direct messages and can only be opened once. Users cannot screenshot or screen record Instants. The feature also integrates parental supervision tools, counting towards time limits and restricting viewing for young users at night. Despite these measures, some users have complained about notifications that alert followers when an Instant is shared, which some see as intrusive.
After being viewed, Instants are stored in a private archive, from which users can post them to Stories as a recap. Many users have noted the similarity to Snapchat's core functionality, as Instagram has previously adopted Snapchat features like Stories.
