Instagram is introducing a new feature to boost engagement on the platform — public comments on Stories that will be visible to anyone viewing the content. This update aims to increase user interaction and keep people more engaged within the app.
How It Works
Some users have already received notifications about this new feature, which reads: “You can now comment on Stories. Your comments will be visible to anyone viewing the story.” Story comments appear at the bottom of the screen, above the controls and view information, ensuring they don’t interfere with the viewing experience.
This feature is quite similar to post notes and reels, providing another way for users to interact with content directly on the platform. It’s designed to keep users in the app and encourage them to react to content in various ways.
Impact on User Engagement
Instagram has been seeking new ways to engage users as more people switch to direct messages for discussing and sharing content. According to Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri, users are now posting content to Stories much more frequently and sending more direct messages than they are posting to the main feed.
The introduction of public Story comments could potentially increase the reach of Stories and attract more responses, notes NIX Solutions. Previously, users could only respond to Stories with a direct message or reaction. However, content creators will still have the option to turn off comments on their stories if they wish.
We’ll keep you updated on how this new feature affects user engagement and any further developments from Instagram. Additionally, Instagram has announced the launch of another new feature that will allow users to add music to their profiles, further enhancing the platform’s interactive capabilities.