Instagram, despite the direct messaging system already in place within the app itself, is looking to start its own standalone direct messaging app.
Instagram is currently in the process of testing its Instagram Direct app, which is, for the time being, only available in Uruguay, Chile, Turkey, Italy, Portugal, and Israel.
Instagram explains the app, “We want Instagram to be a place for all of your moments, and private sharing with close friends is a big part of that. To make it easier and more fun for people to connect in this way, we are beginning to test Direct – a camera-first app that connects seamlessly back to Instagram.”
The Instagram Direct message app will allow users to create and share stories, giving them access to exclusive filters, Boomerang (gifs), and other creative tools on Instagram. Any Instagram friends a user has will be automatically added to the messaging app.
Sound a bit familiar? If you’re thinking of Snapchat, you’d be right. This new direct messaging app is remarkably similar to Snapchat in its abilities, and seems to be Insta-owner Facebook’s (NASDAQ:FB) most recent attack against the Snap (NYSE:SNAP) social media platform.
Ever since Snap refused Facebook’s buyout offer in 2013, Facebook has been consistent in its blatant copying of Snapchat’s features – and Snapchat has been trying to recover its usership pretty much ever since. The launch of Instagram Stories back in January of this year led to a decreased usage of Snapchat Stories – and so the saga continues now, with the upcoming full launch of Instagram Direct likely to further impact Snapchat’s usership.
Instagram Direct is set to launch globally next year, come what may the consequences.
Featured Image: twitter
