Apart from Reels being created to compete with other social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram’s main selling point is Stories. After presenting several features such as polls, quizzes, questions and music, Instagram is currently getting ready to release new features. The new feature allows users to share links or links via stickers in Stories.
1. An alternative to the limited link sharing feature
Before Instagram planned to launch a link sharing feature via stickers, previously, users could embed the link in their Stories and other users who saw it could access it only by “ Swipe Up ” the related story. Unfortunately, this feature is classified as “exclusive” because users can only use it with 10 thousand followers or whose accounts have been verified with blue ticks. Therefore, with this new feature, it is hoped that users with a small number of followers can enjoy similar link sharing support.
2. Currently still in the small-scale testing stage
To The Verge, Head of Product Instagram – Vishal Shah said that the new link sharing feature they developed was still in the early stages of small-scale testing. The main focus is to monitor what types of links are shared by users, especially for links that contain hoaxes or spam.
Furthermore, Shah explained that the link-sharing feature via stickers in the future is planned for ordinary users and users with the right to share links via swipe up. So, the swipe up feature may be removed and replaced with this new feature.
3. For Stories only
Currently, the link-sharing feature via stickers is only planned to be used in Stories only. Shah said that there are no or no plans to add a similar feature to the feed or other parts of Instagram.
In addition, unlike swipe up, where users can only access shared links, the link-sharing feature via stickers allows users to respond or comment via DM ( Direct Message ). Because it is still in the early testing phase, there is no certainty regarding when this feature will be available globally.
What do you think about this feature? And what features do you expect to be present on Instagram in the future?
