Instagram Tests Instants App for Ephemeral Shares

Instagram has begun testing a new standalone app called Instants, designed for users to share quick, disappearing photos and videos with friends and close connections.

The app, which launched in limited regions this week, opens directly to the camera interface, allowing users to capture and send content in a single tap without editing options beyond basic text overlays. Shared items, referred to as "instants," can be viewed only once and expire after 24 hours if unopened. Users log in with their existing Instagram accounts, and content is restricted to mutual followers or the Close Friends list. Instants integrates seamlessly with the main Instagram platform, enabling viewing and sharing across both apps.

Social media consultant Matt Navarra first highlighted the app's existence on Threads, noting its focus on ephemeral media similar to features previously tested within Instagram's direct messages. Instagram confirmed the tests to TechCrunch, stating the app is available on Android devices globally but limited to select iOS regions, including Spain and Italy. It remains unavailable in areas such as Canada, according to early user reports.

A spokesperson for Instagram described...