Getting to Know Instagram Instants: A New Way to Share Spontaneous Photos in DMs

Instagram is once again strengthening its position as a platform for private interaction by launching its latest feature named Instants. Released by Meta on 13 May 2026, the feature aims to meet users’ needs for a sharing space that is more honest, spontaneous, and safe.

If you feel Stories is overly curated, Instants offers a different approach: one-time view and no editing.

Instagram Instants is a feature for sharing spontaneous photos that are sent exclusively via Direct Message (DM) to Close Friends or mutual followers (users who follow each other). Unlike feed or Stories content, Instants adopts a disappearing media concept, where the photo automatically disappears after the recipient opens it and cannot be accessed again after 24 hours.

The feature is designed for speed. Here are the steps to use Instants based on the mechanism officially introduced by Meta:

Recipients can interact by giving emoji reactions, replying to the message, or sending a back ‘Instants’ photo as a spontaneous reply.

Many users have questioned how this feature differs from existing Stories. Here is the comparison table:

Meta places particular emphasis on security and privacy aspects in Instants:

Instagram Instants is a clever blend of BeReal-like spontaneity and Snapchat-like privacy, yet anchored in the strong Instagram social ecosystem.

With anti-screenshot features and the obligation to capture the photo directly, Instants is predicted to become the primary way for users to share behind-the-scenes moments that are more personal without worrying about a permanent digital footprint.