With over 100 million people using Instagram Stories, the enhancement launched in August 2016, Instagram now introduces a new upgrade for this feature: live video.
The user can start sharing a live video for up to an hour swiping right from feed to open the camera, then tapping the “Start Live Video” button.
When the user is done his/her live story disappears from the app, so the user can feel
more comfortable sharing anything, anytime.
Live video on Instagram Stories and Explore will be rolling out globally over the next few weeks.
The company has also launched a new tool in Instagram Direct: dissapearing photos and videos. This new tool started rolling out globally today.
Live video and dissapearing photos add to some other enhancements announce by Instagram on 10th November and 18th October: Boomerang, Mentions, see more links and Stories on Explore.
Live video
The friends of the user who is sharing the live video may get a notification when he/she goes live so they can tune in. While live, the user can pin a comment for everyone to see or turn comments off altogether.
When someone you follow starts a live story, you’ll see “Live” under their profile photo in the stories bar. During the broadcast, you can comment and like as much as you want. One can also check out new live stories on Explore. Tap “Top Live” to see exciting live stories happening at that moment and swipe right and left to easily skip around.
Dissapearing photos and videos
Since launching improvements to Instagram Direct last year, the number of people using Direct each month has grown from 80 million to 300 million around the world.
Unlike other messages in Direct, these photos and videos disappear from the friends’ inboxes after they have seen them. And the sender can see if they replayed it or took a screenshot.
Whether the user account is set to public or private, one can only send disappearing photos and videos to people who follow you.
To send a disappearing photo or video just swipe right into the camera to take a photo or video, then tap the arrow to send it privately. You can choose a group or create one in just a few taps and you can also send to individual friends at the same time.
If the user wants to check his/her inbox, just has to open it, tapping the new paper airplane icon at the top right corner of the feed or swiping left. The user will see disappearing photos and videos in a bar at the top.
The user has to tap the ones with blue rings to see what friends sent. In a group, one can see everyone’s responses and who else has seen them in a slideshow format. Then when you’re done, just tap their faded profile photo to send a quick response.
Image over the headline.- © Instagram
