Instagram Notes feature received a significant enhancement, allowing users to share video status

Instagram Notes has undergone a stylish upgrade, introducing additional features to enhance user experience. Launched a year ago on December 13, 2022, Instagram Notes initially provided a platform for users to share brief status updates visible to mutual followers and close friends accessing DMs. In a bid to inject more excitement into status updates, Instagram now allows users to incorporate a 2-second video. This video, set to play on a loop and vanish within 24 hours, offers a creative twist to the formerly text-centric format.

Threads tags are rolling out globally

Tags, essentially hashtags with a unique approach, are now being globally introduced on Threads, as announced by Instagram head Adam Mosseri on Thursday. The functionality of tags differs slightly from traditional hashtags on platforms such as Instagram and X (formerly Twitter). When crafting a Threads post, initiating a tag involves tapping the # symbol and entering your chosen topic. Unlike conventional hashtags, you're not confined to a single word; you can input an entire phrase (including spaces) and include special characters, Mosseri explained. It's worth noting, though, that only one tag per post is allowed.

The purpose of tags on Threads aligns with that of hashtags – they serve as an effective means to connect with individuals interested in the topics you're discussing. According to Mosseri, "If you share on Threads, [tags are] a great way to help connect with people who are interested in the topics you’re talking about. And for everyone, it’s a great way to help dive deeper into your interests." Meta's implementation, including the restriction to a single tag, is appreciated for its clever approach to prevent intrusive hashtag spam. Nevertheless, the adoption of tags by users will ultimately determine their utility as a valuable tool for discovering conversations about specific topics.

WhatsApp to allow sharing status updates on Instagram

Meta is reportedly working on supporting the sharing of WhatsApp stories to Instagram, as discovered by WABetaInfo. Testers using the latest beta version of the Android app found an option to link their Instagram account with WhatsApp under Settings → Privacy → Status → Share my status updates. This link enables mirroring WhatsApp status updates directly to Instagram as ephemeral Stories. While still in development, this feature could set WhatsApp apart from its messaging app competitors and streamline the process of reposting updates across platforms. However, if you maintain clear distinctions between content shared on WhatsApp and Instagram, this integration may be less useful. Although specific details are not yet available, it seems that WhatsApp and Instagram will maintain independent controls to limit audiences for status updates and stories. Another consideration is that Instagram's story creation tools are more advanced, featuring dynamic stickers for weather, time, and location, not yet available on WhatsApp. The hope is that future WhatsApp updates will bridge this gap. The development progress of this feature will be closely monitored.