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Instagram’s New Instants App Is a Snapchat Clone for Thirst Traps
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Instagram’s New Instants App Is a Snapchat Clone for Thirst Traps

Wired · May 13, 2026, 8:49 PM · Also reported by 4 other sources

Key takeaways

  • Instants is available as a stand-alone app on i OS and Android in select countries, and it’s accessible through Instagram’s direct messaging tab.
  • The core of Instants, from its name to the bare-bones layout, is designed to evoke a sense of ephemerality.
  • Unlike Snapchat, Instants is much more focused on capturing raw moments, like the once-viral BeReal app, and doesn’t allow any filters or retouching.

Why this matters: a development in AI with implications for how people work, create, and decide.

Courtesy of Meta Comment Loader Save Story Save this story Comment Loader Save Story Save this story Meta launched a new app on Wednesday, called Instants, that integrates with existing Instagram accounts and allows users to send unedited, disappearing photos. Instants leans into the popularity of Instagram’s Stories feature and Close Friends lists, where users can selectively share images with a smaller audience.

Instants is available as a stand-alone app on i OS and Android in select countries, and it’s accessible through Instagram’s direct messaging tab.

The core of Instants, from its name to the bare-bones layout, is designed to evoke a sense of ephemerality. Yes, it's a conceptual clone of Snapchat, with images that disappear after viewing, which can also be unsent before the person on the other end views them. (Instagram’s Stories feature, launched a decade ago, was also influenced by Snapchat.)

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