New Instagram update adds ‘Guides’ feature that lets users write ‘blog posts’ for first time ever
INSTAGRAM has added a brand new feature that lets users create “blog posts” for the very first time. The new Instagram Guides look like blog articles – and include photos, videos and words. When Instagram first launched, the app focused mainly on photos. But in recent years, video has become a huge part of Instagram […]
INSTAGRAM has added a brand new feature that lets users create “blog posts” for the very first time.
The new Instagram Guides look like blog articles – and include photos, videos and words.
When Instagram first launched, the app focused mainly on photos.
But in recent years, video has become a huge part of Instagram – including IGTV, a dedicated area for clips.
Now Instagram is taking it one step further with Guides, adding written text into the mix.
Guides appear as a separate section on your profile, but can be linked back to regular posts and Stories.
“We want Instagram to be a place where you can easily find reliable information and inspiration from your favourite accounts,”
“That’s why we are introducing Guides, a way to more easily discover recommendations, tips and other content from your favourite creators, public figures, organisations and publishers on Instagram.”
Early Guides on the site seem to be around well-being, including boosting your mental health or learning new exercises.
But the Guides tool could be used for anything that needs explaining.
Instagram – the key facts
Here's what you need to know...
- Instagram is a social network for sharing photos and videos
- It was created back in October 2010 as an iPhone-exclusive app
- A separate version for Android devices was released 18 months later
- The app rose to popularity thanks to its filters system, which lets you quickly edit your photos with cool effects
- When it first launched, users could only post square 1:1 ratio images, but that rule was changed in 2015
- In 2012, Facebook bought Instagram for $1billion in cash and stock
- In 2018, some analysts believe the app is worth closer to $100billion
- In October 2015, Instagram confirmed that more than 40billion photos had been uploaded to the app
- And in 2018, Instagram revealed that more than a billion people were using the app every month
How to find Instagram Guides on how do they work
Not everyone can create guides just yet.
In fact, the feature is only available to a select few “partner” users chosen by Instagram.
But it’s inevitable that Guides will roll out to more users over time.
The good news is that anyone can view these Instagram Guides.
First, make sure that you’ve updated your Instagram app to the latest version.
Then go to a profile that contains Guides – here’s a list of some early adopters:
You’ll see the Guide icon in between the Photo Grid and Tagged Photos options on a user’s profile.
Tap that and you’ll be taken to a page with large portrait panels with blog post-style headlines.
Tap on one and you’ll be taken straight into an article.
You simply scroll down like any regular blog post you’d see on another website.
Most read in Phones & Gadgets
In other news, Instagram now lets you silence trolls by banning “mentions” of you.
Find out how to secretly read Instagram DMs without the other person knowing.
And the brand new Facebook Messenger Rooms app lets you create 50-person video calls.
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online Tech & Science team? Email us at tech@the-sun.co.uk