Meta globally launched “Instants” on the 13th of May, 2026. This interesting update allows users to share unfiltered photos with close friends and mutual followers in a single tap. The photos vanish the moment they are viewed and cannot be accessed after 24 hours. But the question that has the whole world hooked is: “Does the new disappearing photo feature divide users’ privacy and likeness to Snapchat?”
How It Works
You can find it at the corner of the inbox, under which a sudden folder of photos is allocated. Users can add captions to them before sharing them with contacts who are part of their ‘Close Friends’ list, mutual followers, or both. An ‘Undo’ button briefly appears after the shutter is tapped, giving users a narrow window to take back a photo before it is broadcast.
What It Means for Creators
This function can prove engaging for content creators, as it comes with some interesting upgrades:
- Zero Performance Anxiety
- Fast & Quick “Undo” Feature
- Curated Audience According to the User’s Wish
- Real-Time Connection With Friends and Family
Curious For Some, Concern For Others
On the contrary, “INSTANTS” seems to have faced a backlash as many Meta users shared problems related to their privacy. They feel threatened by the fear of getting their personal photos leaked, while many of the users have phrased this feature as confusing and unwanted, and also compared to Snapchat, as it serves the same purpose of sharing daily life moments with friends and family.
Instants initially rolled out without a release date for India and most other regions during its testing phase. However, the feature has begun making its way to Indian users alongside the broader global expansion.
Instants vs. Snapchat: A Fair Comparison?
The feature borrows ideas from social platforms like Snapchat, Locket, and BeReal. On the other hand, the comparison to Snapchat, “Instants” offers no filters, no video, no editing tools, and no camera roll access.
Comparing “Snapchat” and “Instants” would be totally unfair, as Snapchat allows users to edit their photos and videos before sending with the help of filters and effects, while “Instants” doesn’t provide any such service and only allows users to send raw pictures.
India and Global Rollout
The in-app Instants feature went global, but the app is still rolling out in select countries on iOS and Android. With more regions being added every week, including India, where the feature has begun reaching users as part of the broader expansion.
Meta’s Aim For The Bigger Picture
With INSTANTS, Instagram plans to go beyond being just a social platform and enter the future of real-time digital interaction. It is to accept that with this, the entire global social media world aims to make communication faster, smarter, and more engaging for creators, businesses, and everyday users.
Whether users all over the world like it or not, “Instants” marks a changing point.
Instagram is no longer content to be only a platform for the polished. It wants in on the unfiltered, too.