Instagram, which was created in 2010, has long refused to develop a web version of its product since it was designed to be used when users were out capturing photos with their phones.
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Instagram is experimenting with posting from a desktop computer’s web browser. Matt Navarra, a social media expert, found the feature and took some screenshots to show how it works.
Instagram, which was created in 2010, has long refused to create a web version of its product since it was designed to be used when users were out capturing photos with their phones. More Instagram users are becoming professionals or influencers, publishing highly manipulated or produced photographs and videos hours or days after the event occurs.
After years of focusing solely on its mobile product, Instagram is finally considering allowing users to post from their computers. Several Twitter users noticed the test feature went live on Thursday, and Instagram confirmed the test.
“We know that many people access Instagram from their computer,” Facebook spokeswoman Christine Pai said. “To improve that experience, we’re now testing the ability to create a Feed post on Instagram with their desktop browser.”
Within the browser, you may select aspect ratios, apply built-in filters, and use basic editing parameters, as shown in Navarra’s screenshots. The function isn’t available to everyone just yet, but it’s emphasized in the upper right corner of the page with a banner that reads, “Now you can create and share posts directly from your computer,” implying that Instagram is serious about a wider release.
To see if the test is live in your browser, go to IG and look for a new “+” icon in the upper right icon tray. The test isn’t available to everyone, and users can only create posts for the main feed.
“… We haven’t found any evidence that the Instagram desktop web experience cannibalizes engagement from the native apps,” an Instagram data scientist observed following the launch of web messaging.
“In fact, it’s quite the opposite — users who use both interfaces spend more time on each interface, compared to users who use each interface exclusively.”
“I suspect Instagram’s decision to add publishing via desktop is part of a much bigger plan for the platform going forward,” Navarra said, noting that Instagram is developing more tools to entice content creators away from competitors like TikTok and YouTube.
Instagram added the option to view Stories on the web in 2017 and added direct messaging to desktop late last year, so the new test feature is the company’s most recent sign of life for its desktop product.
IG has a history of being slow to add features to its web app, particularly on desktops. Direct messaging, for example, was only introduced last year. However, social media professionals who use Instagram as part of their daily workflow have had to rely on third-party tools to create posts on desktops, demonstrating that not all use cases benefit from a mobile-only approach.
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