Instagram has unveiled a fresh set of features for Stories, with a particular spotlight on a new collection of interactive stickers. Among these, the Music sticker stands out as it builds upon the existing ‘Add Yours’ functionality. This new sticker, dubbed ‘Add Yours Music,’ encourages users to share their preferred tunes and invites their followers to join the musical exchange by contributing their own selections.
However, it’s important to note that the feature is dependent on the availability of the chosen song within Instagram’s music library.
In a strategic collaboration, Instagram has teamed up with pop sensation Dua Lipa to showcase her latest album, “Radical Optimism.” A selection of tracks from the album is accessible for users to feature in their Stories using the ‘Add Yours Music’ sticker. Dua Lipa herself has taken to Instagram Stories, utilizing the sticker to engage with fans and promote her music.
Instagram has introduced a clever new sticker called ‘Reveal’ to its Stories feature. When a user applies the Reveal sticker, it obscures the image or video in their story, creating a blurred effect. Curious followers can only uncover the hidden content by sending a direct message (DM) to the person who posted the story. This interactive element taps into the growing trend of DMs as a central aspect of user engagement on the platform.
Adam Mosseri, the head of Instagram, has noted that teenagers, in particular, are spending more time in DMs than in any other part of the app. Furthermore, he mentioned that “virtually all” of the platform’s engagement growth in recent years can be attributed to the increased use of DMs and Stories, as reported by Business Insider.
Given this insight, it’s clear that the Reveal sticker is likely to become a strategic tool for creators who are keen to drive up their engagement metrics. It’s anticipated that this feature will be especially popular for crafting more tantalizing and intriguing ‘thirst traps,’ as creators seek to leverage the allure of concealed content to encourage more direct interactions with their audience.
Instagram introduces the ‘Frames’ sticker, a creative feature that applies a Polaroid-inspired filter to photos, giving them the charm of an instant film snapshot. Followers can uncover the full image by emulating Andre 3000’s famous lyric and shaking their phones as if they’re shaking a Polaroid picture. For those who prefer a less interactive method, a simple tap of a button will also do the trick.
Additionally, creators have the ability to enhance their photos with captions that become visible with the same shake action. This playful feature made its debut at the Coachella festival earlier this year, adding a retro flair to Instagram Stories.
Instagram has rolled out a new feature known as ‘Cutouts,’ which offers users the creative flexibility to transform any segment of a photo or video from their camera roll into a custom sticker. These personalized stickers can then be incorporated into Stories or Reels. Once a user creates a cutout, it is conveniently stored in a sticker tray for easy access and repeated use in future posts. The feature also extends to photos shared by public accounts on Instagram, allowing users to create stickers from these images as well.
The introduction of ‘Cutouts’ is part of a broader series of updates and changes that Instagram has implemented this month. Alongside the innovative sticker functions, the platform has revamped its algorithm to prioritize and promote original content, thereby reducing the visibility of posts from aggregator accounts that compile content from other sources. Additionally, adjustments to the Reels feature aim to provide smaller accounts with greater opportunities to increase their visibility, although the specifics of how this will be achieved have not been fully detailed.
In another significant move, Instagram has integrated Meta’s AI chatbot into its DMs, providing users with immediate, albeit sometimes inaccurate, responses to their inquiries. This addition underscores Instagram’s ongoing efforts to enhance user interaction and streamline communication within the app, even as it continues to refine and evolve its features to improve the overall user experience.
