Instagram Launches Instants Feature for Ephemeral Content Sharing; Standalone App Announced

Meta on Wednesday announced the launch of Instants. It is a new Instagram feature designed to make casual photo sharing between friends faster and more spontaneous. The company claims it allows users to share unfiltered, ephemeral photos directly through Instagram’s inbox. Alongside the feature, Meta is experimenting with a standalone Instants app in select countries to provide quicker camera access. It is said to have a similar functionality as Snapchat, while retaining Instagram’s existing safety, privacy, and parental supervision features for teens.