Meta introduced Instants on Wednesday, a new tool integrated with Instagram that allows users to send unedited photos that disappear after being viewed. The feature aims to enable spontaneous sharing similar to Snapchat and BeReal.
Instagram users can access Instants through the main app's direct messages inbox by tapping a photo stack icon. They select recipients from close friends or mutual followers, capture a new photo without filters or edits, and send it with an optional caption. An undo button lets senders retract the image before it reaches others. Recipients see the photos in their inbox, where they vanish after viewing, though senders retain copies in a private archive for up to a year and can later repost them to stories. A dedicated Instants app is also being tested in select countries on iOS and Android for quicker camera access.
