Instagram is a photo-sharing app that lets users share photos and videos with friends and followers. It’s available on mobile devices, including iPhones and Android phones, as well as on the web. It’s free to download and use.
In addition to pictures and videos, Instagram allows users to share stickers that can be used to add extra information to a post. The service also lets people create stories, which are a form of a montage that can be posted for 24 hours and shared with followers.
It’s possible to make your profile private so that only friends and followers can view it. You can also change your profile picture and edit your bio.
There are also a number of different ways to interact with other users on the platform, such as double-tapping their photos or videos to like them and pressing the chat-bubble icon below their photos to leave comments. You can also start a new direct message with any of your followers by tapping the arrow button next to the chat-bubble icon.
If you want to interact with other Instagram users in another way, you can go to their stories and watch their feeds. The Stories feature is similar to Twitter’s live stream; you can choose one of the accounts you follow and scroll through the story until you reach the end.
You can also use a feature called Rooms to video chat with other users in real time. It’s free to join and works with any device.
A recent report from The Wall Street Journal reveals that people are spending less time watching Instagram’s TikTok-like Reels than they were before, and that the feature’s engagement has dropped significantly since it was introduced in April 2015. As a result, the company is trying to find ways to boost its Reels growth and increase the amount of content people are watching.
In the meantime, Instagram is also giving users more flexibility in how they create Reels. For example, they can record Reels up to 30 seconds in length, doubling the limit that was previously set at 15 seconds. They can also now set a timer for 10 seconds and delete clips more easily.
It’s also possible to upload and share AR effects to your Reels, which will transform your photos into a more realistic representation of the real world. This new feature is currently in testing and will be rolled out to all users soon.
When you’re creating a Reel, be sure to use relevant hashtags that align with your brand. These hashtags will help you to find the right audience for your content and make it easier for people to locate your Reel on Instagram.
The best way to ensure that your Reel is a success is to create content that engages your audience. For example, if your business is about fitness, consider a series of workout photos or videos that showcase your favorite moves and tips.
Instagram is also testing a feature that will allow you to collaborate on Feed Posts and Reels with other users. The collaboration will give you both a shared header on the post or reel, and the new content will appear on each of your profiles. This is a great way to create more engaging content for your followers and build new relationships with them.