Instagram today rolled out a new feature of sharing ephemeral messages with others. As of now, disappearing photos and videos are still shared via the Direct messaging tool, but moving forward, they are also included within ongoing threaded conversations between people or groups, rather than pulled out separately.
Instagram features a new blue camera icon in the Direct messaging feature for capturing disappearing photos or videos. The blue camera icon is also available in individual message threads. A arrow button lets users select the friends or groups with whom they would like to share, and also a new function which lets users keep track of who’s viewed disappearing messages.
Instagram has retooled notifications as well. Disappearing messages will be called out via blue highlighting. Disappearing messages can be replayed once, and the sender will be notified if the message is played twice or captured via screenshot. The new Direct messaging feature is rolling out to Instagram for Android and iOS devices this week.
