Instagram has unveiled several updates recently, including displaying the exact date a photo was shared. While this has been met with positive response, there’s another update that has generated more negative attention.

We’re referring to Instagram’s ban on users including deep links to SnapChat and Telegram, (a messaging app similar to WhatsApp), which were previously allowed to be displayed in profile bios. These enabled users to promote their accounts on these apps, and likely boost their follower count as a result. However, links to other social media profiles including Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Periscope and YouTube channels, as well as blogs and personal sites are still allowed. Furthermore, links to iTunes pages are still allowed to be included too- these are generally seen in the bios of artists or bands wishing to promote their music and albums.

So why is Instagram singling out just two platforms? Firstly, the app reported that links to these accounts appear to fall under the “add me” or “follow me” categories, which users had included with the intention of gaining direct followers. However, we can’t see how links to Snapchat and Telegram differ too much from ones to a Facebook or Twitter profile for instance- by including these, the user is still inviting followers to follow them on those platforms too. In this case, we imagine that Instagram’s reaction is because it knows that these two apps are very similar, and offer potential competition. While Instagram is still the front-runner in terms of monthly active users with 400 million, Telegram boasts an impressive 100 million. Snapchat on the other hand, ambiguously revealed last year that it had in the region of 100 million active daily users in developed countries, which if so, would pose a serious threat if more users decided to divert their attention. Finally, having users directed to these platforms encourages a greater amount of private messaging- something Instagram would naturally prefer to happen internally.

And now, the photo-sharing app has also revealed another update- that it will soon display photos in non-chronological order, in a similar way to Facebook. The new feed will instead show posts based on an algorithm which orders images according to users’ interests. The move comes as Instagram co-founder and CEO Kevin Systrom explained that people miss around 70 percent of posts in their feeds. Whilst its not definite that this update will be implemented, the feature is to undergo testing in order to ascertain whether it should be. The move is significant, and it’s certainly a good idea to prioritise quality over chronology. However, we’re not sure that it will benefit all users, especially smaller brands and individuals who are keen to grow their influence- there’s the risk that their images will lose engagement if they are pushed to the bottom of our feeds simply for not being popular enough.

What do you think about Instagram’s latest updates? And are you an avid Snapchat and Instagram user who has benefitted for cross-promotion on other social channels? We’d love to hear your thoughts, so please tweet to us @PracticeDigital, comment on our Facebook page, and do check out our Instagram page too.