Instagram’s most popular feature is getting an upgrade, with new measures in place to curb troll-like behavior. On Tuesday, Instagram introduced a new feature, allowing users to leave comments on friends’ stories that will be visible to others.
Instagram Stories enable users to share fleeting moments from their daily routines and interests. In Tales, users can share photos, videos, or updates that vanish 24 hours after posting, allowing them to broadcast moments to either their entire follower base or a curated list of “Shut Mates”.
You could initially engage with your friend’s Instagram story by simply responding with an emoji or a private direct message. The introduction of this feature enables users to initiate discussions beneath stories within a public forum-like environment, though it does come with certain constraints.
On Instagram, it’s noted that only users who follow both you and the original poster will be able to view comments on your stories, while only mutual followers – individuals who follow both you and the poster – are permitted to leave a comment below a post? Feedback will disappear within 24 hours. If you prefer to disable feedback capabilities, you can do so on a story-by-story basis.
As a passionate Instagram user, I’m thrilled about the impact of this latest feature on my interactions with my close friends and like-minded acquaintances. I’ve found that incorporating feedback with privacy restrictions is particularly beneficial for me since I must post content exclusively for my close friends or privatise my Instagram account to prevent trolls and unwanted visitors from viewing my stories, many of which contain personal or political content. This new feature enables me to engage more effectively with all my social media connections while still maintaining control over who can comment on and review my posts.
These privacy-oriented restrictions aim to filter out trollish or unpleasant and toxic feedback, thereby addressing a growing concern. Stricter controls on remark visibility could foster “healthier” online environments by allowing users to curate their digital spaces more effectively, thereby empowering them with greater agency over their online interactions.
