Since 21 October, Instagram users can post photos and videos of less than one minute duration directly from their computer. An update awaited by those who surf the platform also from desktop and which is part of a series of new features launched by the social media of images this week. In fact, Instagram now allows subscribers to collaborate in the creation of posts and reels; to launch a fundraising campaign in a faster and more immediate way; and finally to exploit music even more to create engaging content.
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Computer photos and videos
The publication of posts via pc is a novelty that has been talked about for some time. The feature had been tested this summer on some profiles: speaking with TechCrunch, a spokesperson for the company had pointed out the fact that “many people use Instagram from their computer” and for this reason they had decided to do some tests to “improve that experience” . According to the American newspaper, it was a decision probably due to an increase in access to social networks from computers recorded during the pandemic.
It is certainly not the first attempt to make the experience on the social network more enjoyable even for those used to using the PC a lot. In fact, in April 2020, Instagram had launched the Messaging function for desktop, also allowing those who surf the platform from a computer to send and receive messages. Although born as a mobile first service, therefore designed and optimized for smartphones, over time the social media of images has begun to believe in the potential of the web interface: as if the two experiences were complementary and able to guarantee greater user involvement.
The research conducted by the company has in fact revealed a growth in the use of the desktop version during the days of the week and the hours of the morning; and they also showed that smartphone usage increases in the afternoon and evening hours and on weekends. A trend that confirmed the idea, matured from the interviews with users, that people want to take small breaks while doing their homework at school or at work. Furthermore, the company has also clarified that it has not found evidence that supports the thesis that the use of Instagram through the PC cannibalizes the engagement produced on the social via smartphone. “In reality, it’s the other way around: users who use both interfaces spend more time on each of them than those who use only one of the two,” reads an article published on the tech giant’s website.
The major effort to improve the desktop version of Instagram fits into the context of the changes that the pandemic has brought about. In 2020, the lockdowns and restrictions to deal with the Covid-19 emergency have favored the adoption of new models of work organization and made our relationships and conversations more digital. E-learning and smart working have become the rule, and free time spent online has grown considerably. Also for this reason, accessing Instagram features via desktop has become more important. Among the three main interfaces of the social network (smartphone app, mobile internet and computer), the desktop version was the one that grew the most in terms of daily active users.
The ‘collaborations’ feature
Two users can now collaborate to create posts and reels, becoming co-authors. Essentially, an account can invite another platform subscriber to work together to create new content. If the invitation is accepted, both will appear as authors of the post or reel: the content will then be visible to their followers. The post or reel will be present on both profiles and will have a shared count of likes and views, as well as the comment thread will also be shared.
This feature is available from Tuesday 19 October even if, as TechCrunch recalls, it was already present on some profiles for a few months: the company had in fact carried out some tests globally but on a small scale last July.
Fundraiser Prompts
It is the new feature, available from Wednesday 20 October, which allows you to create a fundraising campaign in a simpler and more immediate way. The update allows you to launch the collection thanks to the + button in the upper right corner of the screen: by clicking on it, you can select a non-profit organization and add the fundraiser directly to a post in the feed.
Last September, the developer Alessandro Paluzzi had announced this update in a tweet, explaining that Instagram was working on adding a ‘Fundraiser’ option to the menu.
Superbeat e Dynamic/3D Lyrics
These are two new features that allow creators to create more engaging and unprecedented content. Superbeat introduces special effects into the reel to the rhythm of the music chosen by the user in an intelligent and perfectly synchronous way. Dynamic and 3D Lyrics instead offer the possibility to add new effects to the song text that appears on the screen. A novelty that follows the launch of interactive and musical effects by TikTok last April: a sign of how fierce the competition between social networks is to win the attention and favor of the public.
This update, available from Thursday 21 October, allows you to speed up video editing so as to make creating and sharing reels even easier.
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