Instagram Introduces New Disappearing Instant Photos Feature

Instagram is diving into the ephemeral photo-sharing scene with a new feature called “Instants.” This format allows users to share uneditable photos exclusively with close friends or followers who follow them back. Starting Wednesday, Instants will be available globally within the Instagram app’s inbox and as a separate app currently being tested in select regions.

To use Instants in the Instagram app, head to your DM inbox and look for an icon or a stack of photos in the bottom-right corner. Once you post a photo, your friends can react with emojis and reply via DMs, but the photo will vanish after they view it. Instants also have a 24-hour lifespan, and they can’t be captured through screenshots or screen recordings.

However, you can keep your Instants in an archive for up to a year, allowing you to reshare them as a recap on your Instagram Stories if you wish. You also have the option to undo sending an Instant right after posting or delete it from your archive.

The Instants mobile app, which first appeared in Italy and Spain in April, offers “immediate access to the camera” and only requires an Instagram account. According to Instagram, “Instants you share on the separate app will show up for friends on Instagram and vice versa. We’re trying this separate app out to see how our community uses it, and we’ll continue to evolve it as we learn more.”

In testing, Instagram has found that users often utilize Instants to share more casual and authentic moments from their day. Adam Mosseri, head of Instagram, noted that this type of personal sharing is a fundamental aspect of the platform, especially as many users have shifted away from posting frequently to their profile grids.