Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB) has introduced its own version of Snapchat Stories for its photos and video sharing platform, and daringly called it Instagram Stories.
Like Snapchat Stories, Instagram stories will allow users to post photos and videos that disappear after 24 hours. The feature is designed to rival Snapchat but the firm claims that the new feature will only be for Instagram and not its mainstream social media platform. This means that users can post content on their platform and after 24 hours it will not be available on their gallery or other people’s feeds. The new feature will be available through the latest updates together with the recently announced Olympics oriented features.
Users will also get to customize the photos and videos in Instagram Stories using the regular filters that were previously available on the platform. The new feature will not allow users to like post comments or like any content due to the 24-hour time limit. Nonetheless, Facebook has introduced a feature that allows users to send a direct message to another individual through a single tap after viewing their story.
The recent launch of Instagram Stories has raised a lot of questions about Facebook’s trend of copying Snapchat. Many analysts have always viewed Snapchat as a threat to Facebook due to its constant innovations that seem to attract many users. Snapchat has been growing phenomenally and thus it’s potential to be a huge threat to the social network giant’s advertising revenue. This is not the first time that Facebook has introduced a feature similar to something launched by the young rival. There has been speculation that Snapchat might sue the company for copying Snapchat Stories though the rumors are yet to be confirmed.
Facebook has announced that it has also developed Snapchat Stories version of its Facebook app called Quick Updates. The firm, however, announced that it will not launch the feature. Social giant had designated a special place for Quick Updates outside News Feed. Facebook launched the feature for testing two weeks ago but then removed it.
