Key Highlights

• Instagram is testing a new standalone app called Instants that focuses on disappearing photos and videos shared in the moment.
• The Instants app allows users to view shared images only once before they vanish within 24 hours.
• The feature is currently being tested in select regions, including Italy and Spain, across Android and iOS platforms.
• Instants does not support camera roll uploads or editing tools, signaling a shift toward raw, casual sharing.

Instagram is testing a new standalone app called Instants that lets users send disappearing photos and videos captured in real time. The Meta-owned platform is currently experimenting with the feature in Italy and Spain as it explores more casual, low-pressure ways to connect friends. With Instants, Instagram appears to be moving closer to ephemeral sharing models popularized by Snapchat and BeReal.

The new app marks another attempt by Instagram to reshape how users communicate privately and spontaneously rather than through curated feeds.

What Is Instagram’s Instants App and How Does It Work?

Instagram’s Instants app focuses on quick photo and video sharing that disappears shortly after viewing. Unlike traditional Instagram posts, content shared through Instants can only be seen once and remains available for up to 24 hours before it vanishes permanently.

Users can capture images only through the in-app camera. They cannot upload existing media from their camera roll. This restriction encourages real-time sharing instead of polished uploads.

Although users can add basic text to photos, the app does not support filters or advanced editing tools. As a result, Instants shifts attention toward immediacy rather than presentation.

According to an Instagram spokesperson speaking to TechCrunch, the company said it is testing Instants to “give people low-pressure ways to connect with friends” and is exploring multiple versions of the experience.

Why Is Instagram Testing Another Disappearing Photo App?

Instagram already includes features such as Vanish Mode and Stories. However, Instants represents a different approach. Instead of expanding existing tools, the company is experimenting with a separate environment built specifically for spontaneous sharing.

This move reflects a broader shift in social behavior. Many users now prefer private and temporary communication instead of permanent posts visible to large audiences.

Platforms such as Snapchat, BeReal, and Locket have already captured interest in this space. Now, Instagram appears to be responding with a dedicated product designed around similar habits.

At the same time, the company continues testing how standalone apps might support its wider ecosystem without changing the core Instagram experience too aggressively.

Where Is the Instants App Available Right Now?

Instagram is currently testing Instants in select markets, including Italy and Spain. The listing is already visible on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store, although downloads remain limited in many regions.

The company has confirmed that the feature can appear either as a separate app or as part of the main Instagram platform in certain test environments. This suggests Meta is still evaluating how users respond before deciding on a wider rollout.

Earlier reports also indicated that Instagram had been working internally on disappearing photo-sharing prototypes. Instants now appears to be the first public version of that effort.

Who Can You Share Instants With?

Users can send Instants content only to mutual followers or selected Friends lists. These lists sync automatically between Instagram and the Instants app, making it easier to manage privacy settings across both platforms.

Because content disappears after viewing, the app encourages more personal communication rather than public engagement metrics.

Importantly, the app blocks uploads from the camera roll. This keeps the experience focused on real-time interactions instead of archived content.

Such design decisions suggest Instagram is experimenting with how digital conversations might feel more immediate and less performative.

Is Instagram Trying to Compete With Snapchat and BeReal?

Instants introduces features already familiar to users of Snapchat and BeReal. However, Instagram’s strategy appears less about imitation and more about adaptation.

Instead of replacing Stories or direct messages, Instants adds another communication layer built around temporary moments. That structure allows Instagram to test whether users want a separate space for casual sharing without affecting the main feed.

At the same time, Meta continues exploring multiple experimental formats across its platforms. Instants fits into that pattern of incremental feature testing before broader deployment.

Earlier statements from the company also confirmed it is exploring several variations of the Instants concept. Therefore, the final version may evolve further depending on user feedback.

What This Test Signals About Instagram’s Next Direction

Instants shows how Instagram is continuing to experiment with smaller, faster interactions between friends. By limiting editing tools and preventing camera roll uploads, the app shifts attention toward authenticity and immediacy.

The test also reflects a wider trend across social media platforms. Temporary communication is becoming central to how users share everyday moments.

If the experiment expands globally, Instagram could strengthen its position in the disappearing-content space already shaped by competitors.

For now, the Instants rollout remains limited. However, the test highlights how Instagram is actively rethinking how people connect beyond traditional posts and Stories.