Finally! Instagram will now let users upload photos and videos from their laptops and desktop computers
- Users have called out for the ability to upload photos and videos from the web
- Currently it is only available using third party apps or within the Instagram app
- It will be restricted to one minute maximum videos and photos when it launches
- Web browser uploading will be available worldwide from Thursday, October 21
- Other new features announced by the image and video sharing app include collaborations in feed posts and reels and fundraiser prompts
It’s one of Instagram’s most requested features, and now the social media app has confirmed that it will finally let users post photos and videos from their laptops and desktop computers, as well as from their smartphones.
The feature has been tested on select users since July, but will be rolled out globally from Thursday, October 21.
The roll-out is likely to be welcomed by the Instagram community, who have been requesting the option for years.
For example, last year one user tweeted: ‘I would post to Instagram so much more if I could do it from my laptop.’
Meanwhile, another joked earlier this year: ‘Instagram won’t let me post from my laptop and I’m extremely salty about it.’
The desktop upload roll-out is just one of a range of new features set to be released over the course of the next few days.
Other exciting updates include a way to more easily collaborate with others, and the option to host fundraisers from a profile.
Instagram will allows its users to post photos and videos from their laptops and desktop computers for the first time, as part of a string of new updates
Other new features announced by the image and video sharing app include collaborations in feed posts and reels and fundraiser prompts
WHEN ARE THE NEW FEATURES BEING LAUNCHED?
Tuesday, October 19
Collabs: Allows two users to share the same post by tagging the other user – creating one post on both accounts.
Wednesday, October 20
Fundraiser Prompts: Will allow users to host a fundraiser from their account for a nonprofit organisation.
Thursday, October 21
Superbeat + Dynamic Lyrics: Will allow Reels users add lyrics and effects to their music-related videos.
Feed Creation on IG Desktop Web: Lets people share photos and short videos from a web browser.
Some features have been tested on a handful of users in different parts of the world, but this is the first time they are being rolled out globally to all users.
‘Instagram is always working on giving creators new ways to tell their stories, connect with their audiences and express themselves,’ a spokesperson said.
The firm dubbed this a ‘week of daily product drops’ focusing on the Feed and Reels features of Instagram.
It includes new tools and features within the app that would ‘help people take their content to the next level and connect better with their audiences.’
Collabs
The first of the services to be widely rolled out this week is Collabs, which is launching today.
This builds on the informal processes already used by people to create shared posts and content on Instagram.
To make that easier, Instagram engineers have been testing a new way for people to co-author Feed Posts and Reels, and have called the new feature Collabs.
‘From the tagging screen, you can now invite another account to be a collaborator on the post or reel,’ a spokesperson explained.
‘If they accept, both accounts will appear in the post or Reels header, and it will be shared to both sets of followers.’
This makes it easier to do something many creators already do, but rather than having to download and share another user’s post, it can be done with a tag.
‘The post or Reel will live on both Profile Grids and have a shared view count, like count, and comment thread,’ the spokesperson explained.
Fundraiser Prompts
Tomorrow, Instagram will add a feature dubbed ‘Fundraiser Prompts’ to user accounts that will let people raise money for a nonprofit of their choice.
This is something already available from TikTok and Facebook, although primarily used on posts around someone’s birthday in the Facebook app.
Starting a fundraiser will simply involve clicking the creation button, seen as a + icon in the top right hand corner of the Instagram app.
Instagram engineers have been testing a new way for people to co-author Feed Posts and Reels, and have called the new feature Collabs
‘From the tagging screen, you can now invite another account to be a collaborator on the post or reel,’ a spokesperson explained in an email
Instagram launches Limits tool to let users automatically hide comments and DMs
Instagram has launched a series of new tools to tackle abuse from trolls — including one that allows users to automatically hide comments from anyone who doesn’t follow them.
The aim of the Limits feature is to stop waves of abuse from accounts who ‘pile on in the moment’, the Facebook-owned service said.
It comes amid ongoing scrutiny of social media and how it handles abuse following the racist attacks on England footballers Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka after the Euro 2020 final.
When you tap that, you’ll see an option to select a nonprofit and then add the fundraiser to a feed post.
‘While the ability to create a nonprofit fundraiser isn’t new, this is the first time you’ll be able to do it from a standalone spot right from your profile,’ a spokesperson said.
Superbeat + Dynamic Lyrics
Two new features will be launched on Thursday, the ability to post from a web browser, and a music-based concept called Superbeat + Dynamic Lyrics.
The music feature comes in the form of a series of new effects that help creators edit and perform with music on Reels, similar to some features on TikTok.
‘Superbeat intelligently applies special effects to the beat of the user’s song,’ a spokesperson explained.
‘Top it off with Dynamic lyrics to display 3D lyrics that flow with the groove. Spend less time editing and more time creating and sharing.’
It effectively automates the process of adding wave form effects and lyrics to a new track uploaded to Reels by a music creator or someone performing to a track.
Feed Creation on IG Desktop Web
Finally, Instagram will roll out the ability to upload content directly from laptops and desktop computers from October 21.
Until now, users could view their feed on desktop and send direct messages, but were only able to upload photos and videos from the smartphone app.
The Instagram spokesperson said: ‘This has long been requested by our IG community.’
It’s important to note that there will be some limits to the ability to upload to Instagram from the desktop or laptop machines, specifically around length of videos, with users restricted to a maximum one minute video upload.
Time to stop tweeting? Scientists warn there are almost FIFTY harmful effects linked to the use of social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
There are almost 50 harmful effects linked to the use of social media, a new study reveals – and they’re not just mental health-related.
Academics at the University of Technology Sydney report a hefty 46 harmful effects linked to the use of sites like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Among them are anxiety, depression, being harassed, incitement to suicide, cyberstalking, delinquency, jealously, information overload and lack of online safety, they reveal in a new paper.
Overall, issues of social media range from physical and mental health problems to negative impacts on job and academic performance, as well as security and privacy issues, according to the academics.
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