Instagram Is Testing A New 'Shoutouts' Feature For Instagram Stories
According to screenshots shared by Twitter users, Instagram is testing a new Shoutouts feature for Instagram Stories.
New! Instagram has a new ‘Shoutouts’ feature for Stories
— Matt Navarra (@MattNavarra) December 10, 2019
h/t @aj_malakai pic.twitter.com/wbMDtmd9w5
Based on the screenshots, it looks like the feature allows you to “shoutout” another user via Stories by tapping a heart icon from the options within Create Mode, which launched earlier this fall. From there, you have the ability to choose from different shoutouts such as Happy Birthday, Thanks, and Happy Anniversary and then type in a user’s handle to mention them.
Once you mention them, if applicable, a list of Instagram Stories featuring you and the person you mentioned will populate. You’ll then have the option to share any of these Stories along with your shoutout.
More:
— 𝑩𝑳𝑼𝑬 𝑨𝑺𝒀𝑹𝑨𝑭𝑭 (@blueasyraff) December 10, 2019
If you mention someone @ it will list down all your Stories together starting with your first mention till recent. pic.twitter.com/e2tQKutUOV
Instagram has yet to confirm or deny that it’s testing this feature, but based on previous situations of users’ discovering new features, a majority of these features have ended up being launched at some point or another such as what we saw with Quiz stickers.
Over the last couple of years, Instagram has done a great job of launching features that align with how users are already using the platform. For example, Instagram’s Close Friends feature was launched as a result of many teenagers creating fake accounts to share more sensitive and personal content with select friends, better known as Finstagrams.
This Shoutout feature would fall down a similar path as there is a notable amount of users already shouting out their friends and family via Stories such as wishing them a happy birthday or congratulating them on a recent accomplishment. I could also see it being used by social media influencers as a makeshift Cameo app, where someone could pay them money to shoutout their friend or family member for a special occasion.
Although this wouldn’t be a needle-pushing feature like Instagram Checkout, it would be yet another vehicle to encourage users to share even more content and spend more time on the app, which is typically the core goal of any app especially within the social media landscape.
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