Whilst there has been some controversy surrounding Instagram‘s new feature and it’s likeness to Snapchat, the YouTube community have been getting behind this update and rolling with it.
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One of Snapchat’s defining features is its ability to allow users to see who exactly has viewed a Snapchat or story – and Instagram users might be wondering what exactly their followers can see.
Users can watch other Stories at the top of their feed. Take those away and you’re left with little more than a competition for the biggest, best party. It’s unclear whether it would only use it for its new Stories feature, or whether users would be able to do silly things like superimposing animal heads over their faces when shooting normal Instagram videos or pictures. “Sometimes taking a photo, looking down at it, editing it, adding a caption, whatever, actually makes you appreciate the moment that you’re in, it makes you stop and say, ‘That sunset is handsome.’ So I’m not entirely sure that it takes you out of the moment”.
Initially, seven filters are available, but it’s likely that more will be added over time.
Branden Harvey agrees and says he’s already starting to talk to his Snapchat clients about Instagram Stories.
It’s no wonder, then, that everyone is trying to copy Snapchat.
“Instagram has a much more defined ad tool, audience data, analytics, and API”, he said. Once the stories disappear, they do not appear on profiles or within feeds.
Some users are calling Instagram out on social media for being a copycat. “Snapchat hasn’t encouraged brands to build up huge followings”. The filters are definitely a major step up from Snapchat but it lacks anything resembling Snapchat lenses which are all the rage right now. On top of that, Instagram has some a robust discover function where you can find your next favorite artist or celebrity easily, which Snapchat does not.
Obviously, the ephemeral nature of Stories is a limitation for marketers, but this also creates opportunities for them to use Instagram and engage with their followers in new ways, such as posting more content and behind-the-scenes content for special campaigns and events. Instead of the typical “What are you doing” box where users post a status, they are now greeted in the app with an open selfie camera. With all of this new attention comes value to brands and marketers in the form product placement, shoutouts, and reviews.
The Instagram Story feature presents all the options that Snapchat My Story feature now offers.
Instagram Stories are a totally different type of media than normal Instagram posts.
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In 2014, Facebook released Slingshot, which – like Snapchat – with which users could annotate and draw upon their photos and videos. The story telling style of disappearing micro content has a behind the scenes feel compared to the normal Instagram feed.
