Instagram’s Candid Stories feature has now been released.
This feature copies BeReal and challenges users to take selfies when prompted randomly by the app.
Instagram also recently added its Notes feature
It’s no secret that most of Meta’s business decisions are centred on identifying what works, and then either acquiring it (like it did with Instagram and Whatsapp) or blatantly copying it (like it did with TikTok in the form of Reels). Instagram has now launched a feature that mimics BeReal in a desperate bid to capture audiences that flocked to the latter. The new feature is known as Candid Selfies.
Instagram’s Candid Stories feature
Just like BeReal, Candid Stories sends users a prompt to snap a picture within a limited time frame. Once users have uploaded their selfies, they can see what their friends have shared. BeReal’s idea was to combat the overly curated look profiles on Instagram offer, as more and more users online are gravitating towards authenticity. Sharing candid photos showcases your real life, as opposed to your ‘reel life’, minimising the social pressure most people are now under to project an aesthetic.
Instagram, is a jack of all trades
Instagram’s hunger to add new features that mimic other apps has caused a fair amount of problems with the app itself, with many people believing that the algorithm is probably hard to manage. Reels simply do not offer the reach TikTok does, and are often hard to predict, making it challenging for fledging creators to gain any traction. By adding a new feature into the mix, instead of making the app’s algorithm more creator-friendly, Instagram could be adding a little too much to its plate… again.
The feature will first be rolled out in South Africa, before entering other countries.
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Kajoli Anand Puri
Kajoli is a tech-enthusiast with a soft-spot for smart kitchen and home appliances. She loves exploring gadgets and gizmos that are designed to make life simpler, but also secretly fears a world run by AI. Oh wait, we’re already there. View Full Profile
