Instagram has launched a new 'Instants' feature that combines disappearing photo elements from Snapchat with the spontaneous sharing concept popularized by BeReal. The feature allows users to share view-once photos that disappear after 24 hours with close friends or mutual followers, representing Instagram's continued efforts to compete in the ephemeral content space.
Background
Instagram, owned by Meta, has a history of adopting successful features from competing platforms, having previously integrated Stories (similar to Snapchat) and Reels (similar to TikTok) to maintain user engagement and compete in the social media landscape.
- Source
- TechCrunch
- Published
- May 14, 2026 at 12:57 AM
- Score
- 5.0 / 10