A new feature – Live Stories – became available to Instagram users on Jan. 24, and Ukrainians will be among the first ones to enjoy it.
According to Instagram, the feature will be rolling out worldwide over the next week, apart from in the United States, where it was launched in November 2016.
To go live, users need to swipe right and choose the “Start Live Video” option in the camera. Users will not be able to see the video again once a live video broadcast has ended.
Social media marketing specialist Daria Andryeyeva thinks Live Stories will be popular on Instagram: “Users will be able to share life moments, professional advice, and personal opinion ‘live.’ We are tired of affectation, we want more life. Live video is already popular on Facebook, and Instagram will not fall behind. Video is the trend of 2017.”
Instagram has been quickly rolling out new features in an attempt to win users from Snapchat and Periscope. With live stories, it now becomes a one-stop shop for users who enjoy publishing their social photo and video, experts say. Visual artist and trendsetter Maria @dukhovnoe_litso says: “I’ve always liked Periscope, but it is not very convenient to use another application, because I spent too much time on Instagram, Twitter and other apps. Now I have everything that I need in one place, in my favorite app.”
The new feature should help bloggers, businesses and content creators connect with their followers in real time. Travel blogger from Odesa Karisha Bulavskaya @karishashasha plans to go live soon too: “My followers will be interested in seeing the backstage at my shootings, or live broadcasts from my journeys and projects.”
Kyiv Post social media editor Iryna Savchuk can be reached at [email protected].
