Meta has introduced a new feature called Instants, short-lived photos designed for quick sharing between friends on Instagram. At first glance, it's a feature that's very reminiscent of the original Snap charm.chatWith the current BeReal app, you can take a picture of an ordinary moment, send it on, and not worry about it having to be a perfectly edited post.
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Instants work simply. The photo disappears after viewing, or is deleted after 24 hours. Reactions and replies are not displayed publicly under the post, but go straight to private messages. Meta is clearly aiming for less formal communication that will not take place on the profile, but rather between people who already communicate with each other regularly in Direct.
The difference from Stories is quite fundamental. Instants cannot be edited with filters, stickers or other effects. You can only add a caption. Which is actually quite an interesting decision, because Instagram is now heavily focused on editing, effects and visual layers. But here Meta is clearly trying the opposite direction: quickly take a photo, send it and that's it. Although the photos disappear from regular viewing after a certain period of time, they remain in the user's archive for one year and can be shared again to Stories later.
Instants can be found directly on Instagram in Direct Messages, where a new camera has been added. Photos can be sent to close friends or so-called mutuals, i.e. people you follow and who follow you at the same time. Privacy protection is also important. According to Meta, Instants cannot be captured screenshotem or by recording the screen, which is a feature that regular Instagram content types do not offer.
In addition to the Instagram feature itself, Meta has also prepared a separate Instants app. This is mainly intended to provide faster access to the camera and is currently only available in selected countries, as Meta calls it an experiment. However, the content is linked between the apps. A photo shared through a separate app will appear to friends on Instagram and vice versa.
It all feels like Meta's latest attempt to bring back the spontaneity that's been missing from Instagram in recent years. The feed is often carefully curated, Stories can easily turn into a small slideshow, and Reels have their own rules. Instants go in the opposite direction: fewer edits, fewer audiences, a shorter lifespan, and a greater emphasis on the moment. The feature is available globally on Instagram starting today, while the standalone app has only arrived in countries where Meta is currently testing it.
