Instagram Debuts Instants: Ephemeral, Uneditable Photos for Close Friends
Instagram is rolling out Instants, a new ephemeral photo format that users can share only with close friends or mutual followers. Instants disappear for viewers after they see them (and within 24 hours), can’t be edited, and can’t be captured via screenshots or screen recordings. Creators can archive Instants for up to a year, undo sending, or resharing as an Instagram Story recap. The feature is available globally in the Instagram DM inbox and via a separate app currently in testing in select countries; early tests in Italy and Spain were followed by broader rollout. Instagram says Instants are meant for more casual, authentic moments, with interactions occurring through DMs.