Instagram is officially 10 years old and to mark the occasion the app released new and hidden features. Adam Mosseri, Head of Instagram wrote an anniversary blog post on how the app has sparked important conversation over the past decade with iconic posts and moments captured. He mentions a few highlights like the first selfie uploaded from space, the world record breaking photo of an egg and important hashtags like #blacklivesmatter and #metoo.
In Mosseri’s post he said:
“We know that updating an app used by over a billion people is a big responsibility, but it’s important to adapt. I’m excited about how these changes will help our community create new waves of culture, and I can’t wait to see how you’ll inspire us next.”
Adam Mosseri
The first feature available is an easter egg that allows users to change the app’s home screen icon. This feature was revealed in a cryptic tweet with emojis.
This can be done by going into the app settings, then swiping down long enough to reveal several emojis. From there you can choose different coloured icons for the app including: orange, yellow, green, purple, black, white and a rainbow- coloured pride icon. And if you are feeling nostalgic the original Instagram polaroid icon is available.
Another update is an anti-bullying feature that will automatically hide comments that are similar to others that have been previously reported. However, they are not erased and if a user wants to see the comment, they can tap the “View Hidden Comments.” Warning messages will be sent to users who post comments that are flagged as offensive.
You can now also get a Stories map, which will show you a retrospective of all the stories you’ve shared over the past three years.
You are now also able to shop directly from IGTV.
In Mosseri’s blog post he celebrated Instagram’s achievements and said that he is: “proud of where we are today, but I’m thinking a lot about where we’re going.”