Instagram now shows when you’re online (don’t worry, it has an off button)
Instagram's newest feature may present a problem for those of us who are trying to fly under the radar. On Thursday, the photo sharing network debuted its latest update -- a way for folks to see when their Instagram friends are online and, therefore, available to chat. It resembles Facebook's "available" indicator.
Don’t want your ex on your Instagram? You can now remove followers on Android
You've always been able to unfollow those pesky over-posters or ex-significant others on Instagram, but never before have you had the option to exercise such control over you own photo stream. That's right, friends -- Instagram has begun testing the option to remove followers with just a few taps.
Instagram’s question stickers bring comment-like interaction to Stories
Instagram Stories lack some of the interaction options from the traditional feed -- but that's not stopping Instagram from coming up with new ways to promote interaction instead of passively watching Stories. The new question sticker allows you to ask a question and get open-ended responses.
Have a question? Ask it on Instagram with open-ended questions in a Story
Polling public opinion is getting easier than ever on Instagram. The photo-sharing app is constantly introducing new features, and its latest is the ability to ask questions in Instagram Stories. Users already have the option of adding yes/no polls and multiple choice questions to their ephemeral content.
Instagram will now tell you when ‘you’re all caught up’ with your feed
Some will find it reassuring, others absolutely essential. We're talking about a new feature being tested by Instagram that lets you know when you've scrolled through all of the content posted in your feed in the previous 48 hours. So you don't have to worry about missing anything.
Instagram ‘music stickers’ could help to spice up your Stories
Instagram's Stories tool can now share the theme song to your day along with photos and video. The feature, called "music stickers," enables people to search via genres, moods, and trending tracks, which they can add to their Story in a tap. The update also brings a new video recording mode.
The Instagram Lite app is so small, your Android phone won’t notice it’s there
Instagram has launched a Lite version of its app inside the Google Play Store. The mini-sized app takes all the main features we love about Insta, and then squeezes them down into a tiny app, so it's suitable for all different Android phones. By not becoming a burden on storage, it's easier to live with.
Instagram now lets you video chat with up to three buddies
Your favorite photo-sharing app, which is now much more than that, has just launched video chat with the option to chinwag with up to three friends. Instagram has also given some attention to the Explore tab, retaining its style but adding new topic channels along the top to help you surface content of interest.
Popular Instagrammer caught using photos from image libraries
Popular Instagrammer Daryl Aiden Yow impressed many of his followers with fancy shots from a range of dazzling locations. His work even caught the attention of brands such as Sony and Uniqlo, which worked with him on marketing projects. But it's now been revealed that some of his images were taken from stock sites.
IGTV video app rolls out right as Instagram tops a billion monthly users
Now you can start losing your digital car keys as well, Instagram (and by extension, Facebook) takes aim at YouTube with the new IGTV app, and Apple wrestles with their complicated wireless charging technology.
Instagram’s IGTV is a new Stories-like home for vertical long-form videos
After Facebook Watch, Instagram is launching its own video portal -- but it looks nothing like the usual online video viewer. Instead, Instagram IGTV is mobile-first, which means vertical video and a Stories-like interface. The launch comes as Instagram hits the one billion user milestone.
You might soon be watching a lot more video on Instagram
Instagram lets you post videos of up to 60 seconds, but the social media company is reported to be considering extending the limit to a whopping 60 minutes. Longer videos from users, as well as brands and professional creators, would take the app ever further from its roots, and even allow it to target YouTube.
Creep in peace — Instagram will no longer tell people when you take screenshots
If you've been holding back on your social media stalking tendencies, then hold back no more. As originally reported by BuzzFeed, Instagram will no longer alert users when you take a screenshot of their Stories. If you want to immortalize an ephemeral moment, Instagram won't tattle on you.
Here everything we know about ‘Mission: Impossible — Fallout’ so far
The sixth installment of the Mission: Impossible series hits theaters July 27, so here's everything we know about Mission: Impossible -- Fallout so far. Most recently, in June, Tom Cruise shared a behind-the-scenes video of the HALO jump stunt, which involved him falling from a height of 25,000 feet.
Instagram isn’t going chronological, and is now telling us why
Instagram is not going chronological, but is changing how feeds work to give users more control over when and how their feeds refresh. Recently, the social media app gave users a bit more insight into just why it's chosen to steer clear of reverse chronological ordering. While you may not like it, it makes sense.
You can soon mute annoying friends clogging your Instagram feed
Hovering over that unfollow button, but don't want to quite abandon that Instagram relationship yet? Instagram is rolling out a mute button that allows you to keep another user's posts out of the feed and even mute their Stories too. The social network says the move is another effort to help improve the browsing experience.
Instagram finally (sort of) gets that share button in the form of stickers
Gotta share that gem you spotted in your Instagram feed? Now you can, but in Stories. The Instagram share sticker allows users to share feed posts to other users' Stories as a sticker. The shared posts can be customized. And for the users that don't want their photos shared, there's an opt-out option.
Addicted to Instagram? The app may soon tell you about it
Lose track of time when you're on Instagram? Well, you may soon have a way to learn more about precisely how long you spend on the app. Code discovered inside the Instagram app reveals an as-yet unreleased "usage insights" feature that will show Instagrammers the amount of "time spent" on the app.
8×10 app lets you sell your Instagrams as framed fine art in a few finger taps
Want your Instagrams to live in more than just pixels, but don't want to tackle the task of actually printing them? 8x10 is a new app that allows Instagrammers to sell their work as fine art prints without dealing with the sales, printing, and shipping. With the app, artists create signed, limited edition print runs.
Like that food photo? Book a table — or tickets — without leaving Instagram
Instagrammers can now book tickets or reserve a table without leaving the social network. A new tool allows businesses to add third-party booking tools to the profile page, creating a shortcut when users spot a photo they want to see in real life. The booking tool comes alongside new Direct Messages for businesses.
Instagram begins trials on in-app payments to help you insta-pay
Instagram is moving tentatively toward offering its community a more integrated shopping experience with the limited launch of a new in-app payments platform. The new feature lets you enter your payments details directly into the app, paving the way for a more seamless, and faster, shopping experience.
Facebook utilizes Instagram photos and hashtags to create a smarter A.I.
Why manually label images when you already have a source for millions of images labeled via hashtags? Facebook recently designed an A.I. program using Instagram images and hashtags to teach object recognition. But first, the researchers had to learn to sort through all the hashtags.
All the new features coming to the Facebook app and Messenger
At Facebook's F8 developer conference, the company introduced a variety of new features and updates users will see over the next few months. From a new dating app to more privacy controls, here's what you can expect to see on both the Facebook and Messenger apps in the near future.
From video chat to AR filters, Instagram builds long list of new tools
Tired of typing in that group message? Instagram will soon add video chat to messaging, alongside several upcoming changes announced during the Facebook F8 conference. New brand-designed AR filters, a redesigned Explore tab, easier Stories sharing, and a bully filter for comments are also on the list.
How to unblock someone on Instagram
In the age of social media, you occasionally have to block people on social media. The reasons vary, but sometimes, you may decide to unblock them later. If you want to share your cool posts with someone you've previously blocked, here's how to unblock someone on Instagram.
Upload Stories faster — or preview the entire thing — with new Instagram tools
Instagram is now allowing users to add multiple images or videos to Stories in one move. The bulk upload tool allows users to add up to 10 photos or videos, though edits like stickers are still applied individually. The update comes with new location suggestions for location-based stickers.
In a privacy-motivated move, Instagram finally has a download tool
Instagram finally has a tool to download all your data -- including the photos you posted to the site. The update allows users to download their data without relying on third-party apps. The new tool is likely privacy-motivated, and Facebook has already offered a similar tool for eight years.
Looking to spice up your Facebook Stories? Try 3D drawing, a new AR effect
It's not just Instagram that's competing against Snapchat -- now parent company Facebook is getting into the action as well. You'll soon be able to take a photo of your surroundings, annotate them using AR technology, and turn them into Instagram Boomerang GIFs using your Facebook Camera.
Instagram releases Focus portrait mode for photos
Instagram is rolling out a new portrait mode called "Focus," which does away with the need for two camera sensors to create a background blur, and instead uses machine learning and artificial intelligence. The feature is rolling out to the iPhone 6S and later, and select Android phones.
Instagram is working on another Snapchat copycat: Nametags
Even though it seems as though the Facebook-owned platform takes many of its cues from Snapchat, Instagram continues to pull out in front. The latest example of a copycat move comes in the form of Nametags, which looks a whole lot like Snapchat's QR Codes, or Snapcodes.
Instagram tries to ban drug hashtags, with mixed results
In the midst of parent company Facebook's privacy scandal, Instagram is doing everything it can to ensure that it doesn't run into any scandals of its own. For the last several years, a woman named Eileen Carey has "regularly reported" Instagram accounts peddling opioids.
Instagram to unfollow Apple Watch as app support comes to an end
Instagram's failure to update its Apple Watch app means that after the latest update, it will no longer run on the smartwatch.
How to use Instagram
Instagram might be everyone's favorite app for sharing photos, but it can do much more than simply showcase your morning latte. Here's how to make the most of it.
Social Feed: Regrams join Stories, YouTube bans guns, Pinterest expands shopping
In case you were too busy watching the Facebook privacy scandal, here's the social media news you might have missed, including a potential "regram" option inside Instagram Stories.