Instagram tests texts that disappear like those on Snapchat


 One of the few features that Instagram hasn't already duplicated, Snapchat's most popular feature, is finally going to be copied by Instagram. A Facebook representative confirmed to TechCrunch that Instagram has a prototype for an unpublished ephemeral text messaging feature that clears the conversation thread anytime you leave it. This would encourage users to engage in quick-fire, humorous, open, or suggestive conversations, which would increase the number of reply alerts and keep users opening Instagram all day.

In February 2018, Instagram introduced vanishing photo and video chatting, which enables users to select whether conversation partners can "see once," "let replay" several times for a set amount of time, or "keep in chat" permanently. Technically, you could transmit an ephemeral text by using the Create mode to overlay words on a colored background, but in practice, you'd have to utilize the "Unsend" tool, which alerts other thread participants.


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