Instagram is desperately trying to be your one-stop-shop for best videos. In August, it had come up with Stories (like snapchat) and on Monday it launched two new updates: live video on Instagram Stories and disappearing photos and videos for groups and friends in Instagram Direct.
The first update lets you stream videos live. This is one step forward from Snapchat and in sync with Instagram’s parent company, Facebook. Unlike Facebook live videos, in Instagram, you won’t be able to go back and view the video again.
Instagram will allow you to broadcast the video to your followers live i.e. they can watch it only while you are streaming. Additionally, there will be an algorithmically curated explore page with the best of Instagram live videos happening at that moment.
The second update lets you DM the live video to selected people/ followers. Like Snapchat, this video can be viewed only two times by the receiver before it disappears forever. You can draw doodles and add emojis to these videos.
Posting a live video is easy- you have to swipe from right of the feed to start the camera. Then tap on ‘Start Live Video’ to begin. Instagram assures that you can stream for upto an hour.
Also, your friends will get a notification when you go live. They can post comments and emojis, like in Roposo. If you don’t want any comments, you can disable them.
Your live videos, just like the photo stories, will appear in the Stories bar on the top. Once your friends open it, they will disappear.
The best thing about these new features is that you will have total control over them. You can choose who gets to watch you live or who receives your DM. You can bar people from watching your live stream. This ensures that no one can snoop on your content without your knowledge. This is something Snapchat fails to offer.
