Instagram is today rolling out a new feature that allows users to privately send live videos using Direct Messaging.
As well as sharing videos of themselves, this allows users to share videos they are currently watching with a friend or a group of friends.
The idea of ‘co-watching’ videos is that friends can virtually ‘hang out’ while on their phones and react to videos using emoji.
Instagram is today rolling out a new feature that allows users to privately send live videos using Direct Messaging. As well as sharing videos of yourself, this allows users to share videos they are currently watching with a friend or a group of friends
The feature is available through the app’s built-in messaging service, called Direct.
Young people may not spend time with each other in person but still enjoy socialising through their phones.
With Instagram this is not just about co-watching but doing it with live video.
In order to use the new feature users must tap the Direct icon which is at the bottom of the screen.
When self-recording live video it can only be viewed by friends who are online at the time.
Viewers are able to comment and react to the video in real time.
Only your followers can see your live video in their Direct inbox.
However, you can post a live video replay after the video has ended.
Co-watching videos with friends works the same way. Users can disable live video sharing using the Stories setting.
The Facebook-owned company says users with a Private account are only able to share videos with followers.
‘Today’s change makes it easy to invite people to watch your live videos and send exciting live videos you’re viewing to your friends in real time’, a spokesperson said.
This update is available as part of the latest update for iOS in the Apple App Store and for Android in Google Play.
It is not clear if this is a global update and MailOnline has contacted Instagram for comment.
Earlier this month it was revealed Instagram is testing a new standalone app, called Direct.
Earlier this month it was revealed Instagram is testing a new standalone app, called Direct. The app is similar to Snapchat and allows users to send photos and messages directly to their friends
The app is similar to Snapchat and allows users to send photos and messages directly to their friends.
Direct, which is still just a test, has started being rolled out in six test countries – Chile, Israel, Italy, Portugal, Turkey and Uruguay.
The new app was first spotted by The Verge.
When users open the app, a camera will open that is identical to Instagram’s, but with four new exclusive filters.
Swiping left from this page will take you to the Account and Settings page.
And swiping right will take you to a list of chats, similar to the direct messaging feature in Instagram’s main app.
When you install Direct, your direct messages will automatically disappear from the main Instagram app, and an animation will take you straight to the Direct inbox.
This is very similar to what Facebook – which owns Instagram – did with its Messenger app.
The app is similar to Snapchat (pictured) and allows users to send photos and messages directly to their friends
In 2014, Facebook moved messaging out of its main app and into the separate, standalone Messenger app, in the hope of improving user experience.
Speaking to The Verge, Hemal Shah, a product manager at Instagram, explained: ‘We want Instagram to be a place for all of your moments, and private sharing with close friends is an important part of that.
‘Direct has grown within Instagram over the past four years, but we can make it even better if it stands on its own.
It is unclear when, or if, Instagram plans to launch Direct to all users.
HOW APPS COPIED SNAPCHAT’S STORIES
Snapchat released its Stories feature in October 2013, and since, several apps have copied the feature.
August 2016 – Instagram
In August 2016, Instagram released a near-perfect copy of Snapchat Stories, in the form of Instagram Stories.
In August 2016, Instagram released a near-perfect copy of Snapchat Stories, in the form of Instagram Stories
Instagram’s version features a row of circular avatars at the top of the Instagram feed.
Each bubble represents an account that you follow, and contains every photo and video clip that they’ve posted to their stories feed within the past day.
March 2017 – Facebook
In March 2017, Facebook introduced Facebook Stories along with two other new Snapchat-like features – Facebook Camera and Direct.
Facebook Stories highlights decorative content in a horizontal layout over News Feed that disappears in 24 hours – just like Snapchat Stories.
In March 2017, Facebook introduced Facebook Stories along with two other new Snapchat-like features – Facebook Camera and Direct