Social Media Update: Instagram is Revamping Some of its Features

Stop Following Me

The popular social media platform, Instagram, is making some changes to features that have some users upset, while other changes are amplifying how users create stories. 

Back in August, users started noticing that their Following tab was missing. What’s the Following tab? you ask. This was a feature that co-existed next to users’ Notifications tab that became known as the “stalker tab.” Essentially, you were able to see the activity of your followers – pictures they liked, commented on, and who they started following.  

Other than those who were looking to find dirt on people from passed relationships, lifestyle publications utilized this tab to see when celebrities interacted, unfollowed each other, etc.  

When it came down to it, the section of the app didn’t offer any significant benefits other than for users to be creepy. So, Instagram finally made the announcement that they are doing away with it.  

Below is the previous view (left) compared to the new view (right).  

Let’s Get Creative

Coming off the heels of this change, Instagram also announced updates to its Stories Camera – some news that followers are sure to appreciate and enjoy. The platform is now rolling out those changes which will make the app’s tools – including GIFs, Countdown Stickers, and Polls – easier to access and apply from the main function bar. 

Social Media Today reported that the biggest change is the addition of a new ‘Create’ mode, which replaces the existing ‘Type’ option. In ‘Create,‘ you’ll be able to find all the various creative tools available, as opposed to having to add them through Stickers or other forms. 

While this update isn’t anything really “new”, it does make the features easier to use and allows users to improve their stories, as well as (hopefully) their engagement and performance.  

With these two new updates, it’ll be interesting to see if there is more to come and what they will be.