Instagram Added Meta AI-Powered Search Shortcuts at the Top of Comments Drive To AI-Powered Summaries, Relevent Content & Sources on Google
Lindsey Gamble / Instagram
Search shortcuts are starting to appear at the top of comments on some posts. Powered by Meta AI, search shortcuts are related to the post. For example, a post about the New England Patriots signing former Buffalo Bills receiver Mack Hollins to a deal will feature a shortcut for “Mack Hollins stats.”
When tapped, these shortcuts take users to the relevant search page, where they can see a summary of results, sources (which pull from Google), and other related searches. Users can also scroll through standard search tabs like Accounts, Reels, Audio, and more, with an Explore page visible at the bottom.
Why It Matters: By adding search shortcuts, Instagram aims to improve the search experience, directing users to more relevant content while integrating its AI assistant more into its ecosystem of apps.
Search shortcuts have become more common across social media platforms, especially in comment sections. Platforms like YouTube and TikTok use keywords in the comments of users’ posts as search shortcuts, while Instagram has isolated its shortcuts to the top of the comment section.
Regardless of the placement, the goal is to provide users with quick and easy access to additional content, which typically leads to more time spent within the app.
The addition of sources from Google is also notable because it's similar to a move by TikTok to display links to Google search results as well.
