Instagram has introduced two immense new features for IOS and Android users today. Instead of overlaying with Messenger and Facebook Live, Instagram merges the best features of Periscope and Snapchat to help users feel at ease on camera. Instagram is setting a momentary twist on private messaging and video streaming.
The mobile app has just released Instagram Live. This feature helps users stream videos to followers in real-time. However, the video can only be viewed while streaming. There are no replays, but users can browse the well-designed Explore Page for the list of Instagram Live videos broadcasting at that moment.
To be able to go Live, users need to swipe from the Instagram Stories camera. Instagram will provide a list of friends who have shown interest in Live video and send notifications to watch. Also, Instagram will put a Live tag on the user's Instagram Stories' bubble that shows at the feeds of the followers. This process prevents overload on notifications, which caused Periscope problems before. Viewers can comment or tap twice to add hearts, according to Techcrunch.
Live streamers, in addition, have the option of hiding comments or all the buttons and block or report anyone who harasses them. If some followers cannot view the live stream, Instagram provides Explore Tab Stories that highlights the best Live streams happening. Instagram moreover provides a channel that users can swipe through giving ease and comfort in experiencing Live.
Another feature is the Direct Ephemeral. Through Direct, users can send photos, videos, texts, and posts from Instagram to friends. Instagram incorporated into Direct the option for making Ephemeral Stories messages. Users will see the ephemeral Stories messages tab at the top with the list of permanent threads at the bottom. When users share photos or videos to Instagram Stories, they select friends or group of friends to send it to. Selected followers can view the messages once and also replay them once and then the messages will be gone.
The new features introduced by Instagram are creative, interesting and timely. It allows users total control of their audience. It also gives users the privacy that they long to experience in social media nowadays.
