Instagram is testing a new image-sharing app called “Instants,” the company confirmed to TechCrunch on Thursday. The app, which is available in Spain and Italy, lets users share disappearing photos with their friends that can be viewed only once and remain available for 24 hours.
With Instants, you capture a photo in a single tap, with no editing allowed. The app doesn’t allow uploads from your camera roll and only lets you capture and share content using the in-app camera. While you can add text to your “instants,” as these unedited photos are called, you can’t modify them any further.
Unlike Instagram, which is about curated, polished content, Instants is designed for quick, real-life snapshots. The app borrows ideas from social platforms like Snapchat, Locket, and BeReal, as it focuses on authentic and ephemeral content.
It’s worth noting that Instagram has been testing Instants as an in-app feature in certain regions before today. The company says users can choose to use Instants either within the standard Instagram app or through the standalone Instants app.
“To give people low-pressure ways to connect with friends, we’re testing an app called Instants to share casual photos and videos in the moment,” a spokesperson said in a statement. “We’re exploring multiple versions of Instants to see what people like, and will listen to our community.”
You can share Instants with your mutual followers or your Close Friends list. Instagram notes that these lists are the same across the Instagram and Instant apps.
The app is available on iOS and Android.
Although Instagram started as a way for friends to share content with one another, over time, it has become more impersonal as it has been flooded with ads and influencers. By introducing a new app for low-stakes, “in the moment” sharing, the company is looking to go back to its roots while also responding to competition from apps that focus on ephemeral sharing and close friend interactions.
However, Instagram may be a bit late to capitalize on the trend of low-pressure, unfiltered photo sharing, as BeReal is not as popular as it once was. At the same time, many people already use Instagram Stories, the app’s Snapchat clone, for quick sharing and may not see the need for a separate app to do so. Given these factors, it’ll be interesting to see how Instants plays out.
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