Instagram Stories is getting a new ‘Type’ feature

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Instagram
Instagram makes sharing Stories simpler.
Photo: Instagram

Instagram is taking another swipe at Snapchat with a new feature called “Type.” It allows users to post text to their Stories — without adding a photo or video — and it’s in testing now ahead of a wider rollout. Another Snapchat feature is also on its way.

Instagram may not have been first to give us Stories, but its platform is proving incredibly popular. With over 300 million daily users as of November 2017, the feature is substantially bigger than Snapchat’s entire user base.

Instagram hopes to maintain its rapid growth with regular updates adding new features.

Type is coming to Instagram Stories

A new feature called Type, now being tested among a small number of users, allows you to publish text-only Stories with colorful backgrounds for the first time. You’ll be able to choose between different fancy fonts, but Instagram automatically selects the background for you.

You can add an image of your own if you wish, but Instagram will still apply its gradient filter, making text easier to read. Type can be found (when it’s available to you) at the bottom of the Stories camera, alongside options like Boomerang and Rewind.

Type was first spotted in Japan back in December, and The Next Web reports that it is now popping up in Europe. It seems a wider rollout to all users is right around the corner.

Screenshot alerts are also on the way

Instagram Stories are also getting screenshot alerts — another Snapchat-inspired feature. That means if you take a screenshot of a friend’s story, they will be alerted, but only after you take on for the second time. You’ll get away with it just once.

Instagram already has screenshot alerts for direct messages, so it’s rather surprising it has taken this long for it to come to Stories.

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