Instagram Rolls Out Story Comments.
Instagram has recently introduced a new feature allowing users to comment on Stories, marking a significant update to how users interact with this ephemeral content format. Here’s what you need to know about this rollout:
- Comment Visibility: Comments on Instagram Stories are now public for all followers to see, similar to comments on regular posts, but with some privacy controls. Only mutual followers (those you follow back) can leave comments, which helps in maintaining a more personal and less troll-prone environment.
- Duration: Like Stories themselves, these comments disappear after 24 hours unless the Story is added to Highlights, in which case the comments remain visible.
- Control for Users: Story posters have the option to turn comments on or off for each Story they post, giving them control over the interaction their content receives.
- Interaction Method: Users can still reply to Stories via direct messages (DMs) if the poster’s settings allow it. Additionally, there’s an option to send a DM in response to a Story comment by swiping left on the comment and tapping the DM icon.
- Visual Cue: Small profile images of commenters appear at the bottom of a Story’s icon, indicating that comments are available for that Story.
This feature aims to enhance engagement on Instagram Stories by making interactions more visible and dynamic, while still offering privacy options to manage who can comment. The introduction of Story Comments reflects Instagram’s ongoing efforts to evolve its platform, encouraging more direct and visible interactions among users.
