Instagram CEO introduces Instagram Direct photo sharing option
Photo-based social networking site Instagram has launched Instagram Direct allowing users to share images with specific friends or followers.
Announced today by CEO Kevin Systrom in New York, Instagram Direct allows images to be share with between one and 15 Instagram users at a time.
Speaking at the event Systrom said: “We’re all super excited about this, we’ve all be using it in the office and interacting with it and it’s very addictive.
Alongside the conventional share to all option Instagram users will now find a ‘Direct’ option which allows them to select which users to share with.
Images are shared in real-time with the sender alerted to who has seen the image. A chat function is also available underneath to “open up communication”.
Systrom added: “It’s about bringing people together around photos and videos like you would at home. You used to get everyone around the table with the shoebox of photos, this is the same thing, getting people together around images and starting up a conversation.”
Instagram users need not worry about a deluge of direct messages as only users that you follow will be able to send images to you directly. Unknown users will have to be approved.
The update to the app is available in the Apple App Store and on Google Play from today (Thursday 12 December).