Instagram launches feature enabling college students to connect

Instagram has launched a new feature that enables college students to connect in a virtual community with their classmates.

The new tool that the social media company is testing will group users by their college and is intended only for current university students.

The aim of the community feature is to help current students find classmates through class-based lists. 

Users who are part of the community will be able to direct message others on the list, CNBC reports. 

Students have to opt in to be part of the test and can ignore or block messages from people who contact them.

After students opt in to use the feature they add in their university and graduating year, which will then grant them access to the lists of other students who have also chosen to be part of the community. 

The launch of the new tool comes just days after Tinder revealed a students-only version of its popular dating app.

Called ‘Tinder U’, the app will only be available to college students at four-year, accredited, not-for-profit universities in the US. 

The launch of the new Instagram tool comes just days after Tinder revealed a students-only version of its popular dating app called Tinder U (above)

Students can use the app for more than just dating, with the ability to find new friends, study buddies and more. 

The app looks almost exactly the same as the regular version of Tinder, but it now shows a badge associated with your university at the top of your profile image.  

Additionally, in order to log in, users must have a .edu email address and be located on campus when they sign up.

Instagram users who opt in for the college community lists do not have to have an .edu email address to use the feature.