Meta Platforms has launched Instants, a new standalone photo-sharing app linked to Instagram that allows users to send temporary photos to friends and mutual followers.
The app focuses on quick and casual sharing, with photos disappearing after they are viewed or after 24 hours. Instants was previously available as a feature inside Instagram’s direct messages before Meta expanded it into a separate app.
How to use Instants
- Download the Instants app and log in using an Instagram account.
- Choose a friend or mutual follower to send a photo.
- Take a photo within the app or upload one from the camera roll.
- Select how long the image will stay visible before disappearing.
- Send the photo directly through the app.
- Manage privacy settings to control who can send Instants.
The launch places Meta in closer competition with apps such as Locket and BeReal, which became popular for more spontaneous and less curated photo sharing.
Locket allows users to send live photos directly to friends’ home screen widgets, while BeReal encourages users to post unedited photos during random daily prompts.
Meta has not yet announced when Instants, the app, will expand to more regions, but it is currently available in the Instagram app globally.
