Instagram is adding a BeReal clone

The social network is beginning to test a feature similar to that of the French application in South Africa and is rolling out another allowing users to share short messages.

Copying to compete is a recurring practice in the middle of social networks, especially at Meta. After betting on Reels to compete with TikTok, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram has taken on another popular application: BeReal. Internally testing a feature similar to the French social network for several months, Instagram is now beginning to test it with users. Called “Candid Stories”, it consists, like BeReal, of receiving a daily notification at a random time to take and publish an unretouched photo within two minutes.

At this time, this feature is only available to users in South Africa and Meta does not specify if or when it will roll out globally. The firm nevertheless indicates in a press release that a similar function is currently being tested with stories on Facebook.

A way to compete with Twitter

Instagram also launched a feature called “Notes” on Tuesday. Presented as “a new way to share your thoughts and see what your friends are up to”, it allows you to publish messages of up to 60 characters (text and emojis) within the private messaging system of the social network. To leave a note, a user must go to the top of their inbox, select the followers they follow or the people in their close friends list. The recipient will then see it at the top of their inbox but only for 24 hours. Responses to these notes will arrive in the form of direct messages.

For Meta, this feature is a way to compete with Twitter. While users have been looking for alternatives to the social network since its takeover by Elon Musk, the New York Times revealed last week that employees of the company indicated that “Notes” would compete with the platform. Others even suggested making it a text-focused app or adding another Instagram feed.

The social network is also working on features allowing users to interact in small groups. With the first, called “Group Profiles”, they will soon be able to create profiles in order to share messages and stories with friends. Currently being tested, the second – “Collaborative Collections” – allows you to share recorded content with another user and create collections together. “A way for people to connect with friends about their common interests”according to Meta.