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Instagram's 'Instants' Feature Sparks Privacy Concerns Among Users

Instagram has launched a new feature called 'Instants' that allows users to share ephemeral, uneditable photos that disappear after 24 hours. The feature has received mixed feedback from users, with many expressing privacy concerns and frustration over the instant-send design. Users can disable the feature by going to Profile Settings, then Content Preferences, and toggling "Hide Instants in Inbox." The feature is available globally within the Instagram app and as a separate app in select countries.

Key Points: Instagram Instants: Mixed Feedback & How to Turn It Off

  • Instagram launches 'Instants' for ephemeral photos
  • Feature allows uneditable photos that disappear after 24 hours
  • Users express privacy concerns on social media
  • Option to disable feature available in settings under Content Preferences
2 min read

Instagram's new feature 'Instants' gets mixed feedback, read what netizens have to say

Instagram's new 'Instants' feature for ephemeral photos gets mixed feedback. Learn how to turn it off and why users are concerned about privacy.

"yoo this new ig instant thing is NOT safe - User on X"

New Delhi, May 15

Instagram, which has become more than a platform just for sharing photos and videos, has over the years evolved into a full-fledged social media app loaded with features that keep users engaged in different ways.

However, not every new update has been welcomed positively. A case in point is 'Instants', a feature that has sparked mixed reactions among users. 'Instants' are ephemeral photos that one can't edit and that can be shared with close friends or followers who follow back, as per The Verge.

'Instants' are available globally beginning on Wednesday as a feature in the inbox in the Instagram app and as a separate app that's now in testing in select countries.

To access Instants from the Instagram app, one has to go to the DM inbox and look in the bottom-right corner for an icon or a stack of photos.

After you post a photo, your friends can emoji react to it and send a reply to your DMs, but after they see it, the photo disappears for them. Instants also disappear after 24 hours, and they can't be captured in screenshots or screen recordings.

The particular feature did not go down well with several users.

"yoo this new ig instant thing is NOT safe," a user wrote on X.

"wtf is Instagram doing with that instants feature. Stop that shit right now," another user posted.

The ones who didn't like the feature are now coming out and telling others how to turn it off.

"how to turn off instants feature go to profile settings content preferences turn on hide instants toggle thank me late," a social media user wrote.

On an app like Instagram, where users are accustomed to reviewing and carefully curating their content before sharing it, the feature's instant-send design has understandably frustrated many people, considering their privacy is at stake.

To turn off the new Instants feature, go to your profile, click the three-line menu at the top right to open your settings. Scroll down to "Content Preferences" and toggle the "Hide Instants in Inbox," as per TechCrunch.

Once this option is selected, a user will no longer see the 'Instants' feature in their inboxes and they also won't see any 'Instants' that people have sent to them.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

S
Sneha F
Arre yaar, we already have stories and disappear mode. Why another temporary feature? And the fact that we can't edit the photo before sending makes it worse. I take 10 mins to pick the right filter for a post 😅. But maybe Gen Z likes this raw vibe?
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James A
As someone who uses Instagram for business promotion, this feature is confusing. It feels like a step backward from curated content. The no-screenshot guarantee also seems unreliable—people can still use another phone to capture the screen. Security wise, this could backfire.
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Deepak U
I tried it once, and honestly it's not that bad. For group chats with close friends, it's fun to send random unedited pics without the pressure of perfection. But they should have made it opt-in instead of opt-out. Typical Meta move though 😒.
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Lauren Z
Already turned it off—thank you for the instructions in the article! 🙏 Privacy concerns aside, I just don't need another way for people to send me random photos I can't save or edit. Let me keep my inbox clean, please.
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Arjun K
I see what they're trying to do—creating more spontaneous sharing like Snapchat. But insta already has stories for that. And the no-editing rule? Ugh, my friends make fun of my natural lighting already 😂. Hopefully they improve it with edits in future updates.

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