Five new must-know Instagram features you might have missed

Aug 11

Social media moves so quickly, it can be hard to keep up. Instagram, especially, has been rolling out new features to compete with competitors like Snapchat and TikTok, which has made for a super-inclusive and powerful platform for content creators and brands. But don’t get left behind in its dust cloud from the race. Here are a few of the latest roll-outs from Instagram you may not have even known about – until now!

Dual camera comes to Stories

I am obsessed with this new feature! Instagram has just started rolling out the ability to record yourself (selfie camera) and what’s in front of you (back camera) AT THE SAME TIME. This will be amazing to use at live events (imagine you and your friends singing along while your favorite band is rocking out) or in interview situations and DIYs. I’m excited to experiment more with this one.

2. Pin comments to the top of your comments section

Pinned posts are nothing new to places like Facebook and Twitter, and just recently, Instagram introduced the ability to pin comments to the top of a thread on a newsfeed post. You can pin your own comments or another user’s comments. This is super helpful for those who are especially long-winded and want to continue a caption in the comments below, for example.

3. Instagram’s answer to TikTok: Reels

Instagram’s latest feature, Reels, was just released last week. Record and edit 15-second multi-clip videos with audio, effects, and new creative tools. You can share reels with your followers on your newsfeed, and, if you have a public account, make them available to the wider Instagram community through a new space in Explore. This last part is huge. Like the algorithm favorability we see with IGTV, Instagram has expressed priority once again through its latest features. Use Reels and reap the benefits of increased visibility!

4. Add multiple pictures to a Story

This is one of my favorite new features to be introduced to Stories: you can now, finally, add multiple pictures to a Story! Here’s how:

Open your Insta Stories
Take a photo or upload a photo from your camera roll
Select the Stickers option
Select the “Photo” sticker
Add more photos to your story

While third-party apps to help create collages for your Stories will still be necessary for branded content, it’s such a relief to be able to also share on the fly, as well.

5. Remove followers

You might be thinking, wait, why would I want to remove followers? There could be a number of unique reasons to out someone from your follower list whether you’re an individual or business, including spammers or bots. It’s a feature you hope to not have to use often, but it’s helpful to know the ability exists. And best of all, the person you remove won’t be notified when it happens. All you need to do is head to your Followers tab in Instagram, search for the person you want to remove, and click the “Remove” button next to their name.

What are some of your favorite Instagram features of the moment? Let us know in the comments below!