Instagram users wanting to select who to show photos and videos can now do so with the social media platform's new option called Instagram Direct following an announcement by the company Thursday Reuters reported.
Users can transmit photos or videos anywhere from one to 15 people on the app, which is downloadable to Apple and Android smartphones. Consumers can also participate in active conversations like they could when publicly sharing photos and videos before the change.
"Sometimes you want to be able to share, not with everyone, but just with a specific group," Kevin Systrom, co-founder and chief executive of Instagram said in a presentation in New York Reuters reported. "Instagram Direct is a simple way to send photos and videos to your friends."
The news is the latest development since its owner-company Facebook announced a decrease in teenagers utilizing the app. This also comes as other similar services in WhatsApp, and Snapchat strive to compete with Instagram.
"Bottom line, this is a catch-up move for Instagram," Julie Ask, an analyst at Forrester Research analyst Julie Ask said in a blog. "Apps like WeChat already allow users to share videos, photos, messages, cartoons, voice clips to individuals, groups, groups created around an event."
Users can take photos on the app, the way they normally did before the newest option was added. They are then able to post the photo or video, and tag others similar to capabilities on Facebook. Individuals can then choose if they want the content shown to their list of followers, or to a certain group.
The social media platform app has over 150 million users a month. Sixteen billion photos have been shared to date Reuters reported.
The numbers compare to WhatsApp's 350 million current users according to Bloomberg Businessweek. WhatApp, and Snapchat users post a combined 400 million photos a day.
Facebook, which ranks as the top social media network across the globe, purchased Instagram in a $1 billion deal last year.
