You can now use GIFs on Instagram
Animated GIFs are about to take over Instagram Stories.
The photo-sharing app added support Tuesday for animated GIF stickers to Stories in an update rolling out to Instagram's iPhone and Android apps.
CARD ID: 314192
With the update, which comes via a tie-in with GIF powerhouse Giphy, users can now decorate their in-app snaps with animated stickers. The creations can then be shared to Instagram Stories or privately with friends via Instagram Direct.
To find the stickers, look for the "GIF" option in the sticker menu. There, you can search for specific GIFs (e.g. "pizza") or search for the types of GIFs you want to use. You can search for "emoji" to look for emoji-themed creations, for example, or "accessories" to find stickers to add to faces.
The update is yet another example of Instagram copying and one-upping Snapchat at the same time. Snapchat added animated stickers and filters to its app last year, but its offerings aren't as comprehensive as Instagram's.
Additionally, Instagram announced that it will no longer require photos and videos shared to Stories to be cropped to a specific size. An upcoming update will allow you to share videos and photos cropped to any size in Stories (yes, this means you can finally share horizontal pics and clips in your Story). No word on when that update is rolling out, but the company says it will be "in the coming weeks."
Topics Instagram Social Media
Karissa was Mashable's Senior Tech Reporter, and is based in San Francisco. She covers social media platforms, Silicon Valley, and the many ways technology is changing our lives. Her work has also appeared in Wired, Macworld, Popular Mechanics, and The Wirecutter. In her free time, she enjoys snowboarding and watching too many cat videos on Instagram. Follow her on Twitter @karissabe.
