A new layout for Instagram Stories has been announced. Although the prototype is still in its early stage and is in the works, rumours have leaked that it will adopt a vertical style for viewing stories. This style is similar with Instagram’s Reels and TikTok’s style of viewing videos. Facebook says the company has not started testing the feature yet and the company isn’t sure when it would be put out for public testing yet. The prospective design was spotted by Developer Alessandro Paluzzi who shared a screenshot of the prospective layout design on Twitter.
This new layout will require Instagram users to swipe up and down to view stories just like its Reels feature. This should replace the taps and horizontal swipes which is currently still in use. Rumors have it that Facebook is changing the layout in a bid to keep up with TikTok which is a big contender for social media like Instagram. TikTok requires users to swipe up to view the next video and down for the previous video. Reels also come in this vertical swipe up-swipe down format; the same way users swipe up or down for next or previous video on TikTok. Instagram’s Reels was introduced last year after the rave on the TikTok app, in a bid to compete with the app and provide Instagram users with almost the same option.
A new layout for viewing stories on desktop was recently introduced. Stories now appear in a convenient carousel format. This new format makes viewing stories on desktop very easy and more convenient. This is hopefully what is intended to be done on mobile; make stories easy to view and navigate.
Instagram has witnessed a steady release of new features starting with stories, IGTV that allow users to post videos longer than one minute, Reels for posting short creative videos, and just this week, the ‘Recently deleted’ option that allows users to temporary delete posts and restore whenever they want within a thirty-day period. With all these features, Instagram continues to be one of the social media apps to look out for leaving users to wonder what next the parent company; Facebook has in store for users.
Paul Femi Balo is the founder and publisher of TechBooky. He covers artificial intelligence, African technology, digital infrastructure, enterprise technology and the global digital economy.
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