- Instagram is planning to launch a new Twitter-like text app.
- This app will work similar to Instagram but with text posts as the main content.
- Instagram users will also be able to import all their followers, account information and controls on the new app.
Instagram is reportedly working a new app that might give some heavy competition to Twitter. Till date, Twitter has remained the pioneer when it comes to text-based apps despite similar apps trying to replicate it. With Instagram’s new text app, it could change considering the platform’s already-existing popularity and user base.
Instagram’s new text app
So what is this new Instagram app?
- It’s essentially another social networking app but here you get to post text updates up to 500 characters, according to details posted by Lia Haberman in her ICYMI newsletter.
- In addition to text you will also be able to attach links, photos, and videos that are up to five minutes long. Similar to Twitter, others will be able to engage with your text posts with likes, replies and reposts.
- Just like the photo and video Instagram feed, this app too will have a centralised feed where text posts from your followers and recommended content will be shown.
- Instagram also plans to make this app available with others such as Mastodon (Twitter-like app). This way, users on other apps will be able to search for your account, follow you and even interact with your posts.
- Although this will be an entirely new app, it will still be integrated with Instagram which will make it easier for people to try it out. It will basically sync your Instagram account, so you won’t have to set up anything.
- You can login with your Instagram username and password, and have all your followers, and people you follow on the new app. Your Instagram handle, bio and verification will also be visible on the new app.
- As for the launch date, there’s no specific one chosen yet but it’s expected to be available as early as June.
Instagram will also sync all your privacy controls on the text app. So if there are accounts you’ve blocked on Instagram or words that you’ve hidden, the same settings will apply on the Instagram text app we well. More features such as 2-factor authentication, blocking, reporting spam will all be available on the new app.
How the app works and if it will actually be a hit among users is something we can’t predict now. Instagram is known to be very experimental with new features and products. This also isn’t the company’s first try with a separate app. It launched this app called “Threads” that was solely for you and your “close Instagram friends”. Instagram Threads basically gave users another app just for close friends activity. The app understandably didn’t work and Instagram decided to shut it down in just two years.
The new Instagram text app could pose a threat to Twitter which is currently going through an adventurous phase after Musk’s ownership but whether it can move an entire army of Tweeters to a new platform remains to be seen.
