How to use Instagram Stories
If your social media life wasn't confusing enough, Instagram has essentially stolen "Stories" from Snapchat. Now you can put your photos in little timelines all over the place.
In an interesting move, "Stories" was released by Instagram on Tuesday. The update seems to be taking a little while to hit phones, but once it does, you'll be able to sort your Instagrams into a slideshow of photos, which can be seen by your friends. The photos will then disappear after 24 hours.
You May Also Like
- 15 min
- iPhone
- Instagram App
Step 1: Create your ultimate story.
To get this party started, you are going to need to get your Instagram app updated to the latest version. Head over to the App Store on an iPhone, then check your updates tab for the latest installment. On an Android phone, go to the Play Store and search for the Instagram app. Then hit update. Boom.
Step 2: Create your original story
From your Feed, you should be able to see a little plus icon in the top left hand corner of the screen. Then click the photo / video button to capture the first part of your story. If you want to grab a photo or video you took at a party last night, just swipe down on the screen and select your top snap, errr, photo.
Step 3: Decorate your photo
Tap the "Aa" button to add text on top of the photo or use the pen icon to put your artistic skills to work. When you are finished with being Picasso, click the "Done" button and it will be ready to add to your story. If you want to get rid of the photo, hit cancel; to save it, hit the download icon.
Step 4: Check out other people's stories
To see the stories of people you follow at the top of your feed, just click on their photo to bring up the story. You can also access someone's story by tapping on their profile photo. If they have an active story, their profile photo will be surrounded by a pretty rainbow ring.
Step 5: Just like Snapchat, you can see who is watching
Human validation is key for these features to succeed. Just like on Snapchat, if you want to know who has been watching your entire vacation, it is simple to find out. Be warned: It is the quickest way to find out how unpopular your life story actually is. Take a moment. Simply open up your story and swipe up on the screen. It will provide you with the number of viewers along with the names of people who have been watching your every move. Luckily, no one else can see these stats. You also cannot hide the fact you are looking at someone's story, so sort out your addiction to snooping.
Step 6: Show your appreciation for a story
Really enjoyed the 11 photos of your second cousin's baby? Send them a message to say thank you. Open the story, choose "Send Message" in the bottom left, write your message and hit send. Although the app will save your text message for life, the photo or video you are talking about will vanish from your chat.
Step 7: Keeping your stories as treasured memories
Sometimes you don't want the memories of your summer party to vanish in 24 hours. You can either save a photo from a story before or after you publish, or upload any part of it to your Instagram feed as a regular photo. If you want to save your photo before it is published, just hit the download arrow icon. After it is published, open up your story and click the three dots in the bottom right of the screen. Click "Save Photo." To share it as a photo on your feed, click the dots and "Share as Post." If you want to do the opposite and destroy one of your photos from living memory, also click those helpful little dots and hit "Delete."
Sound familiar? Head over to Snapchat for the exact same thing.
Stories will let you add doodles, text and emoji to your images and can be accessed at the top of your feed. If you are swiping all over your Instagram app and can't quite work it out, here is a rundown of how to use the feature. (Hint: Just like Snapchat.)
Firstly, update your Instagram app:
To get this party started, you are going to need to get your Instagram app updated to the latest version. Head over to the App Store on an iPhone, then check your updates tab for the latest installment. On an Android phone, go to the Play Store and search for the Instagram app. Then hit update. Boom.
Create your original story:
From your Feed, you should be able to see a little plus icon in the top left hand corner of the screen. Then click the photo / video button to capture the first part of your story. If you want to grab a photo or video you took at a party last night, just swipe down on the screen and select your top snap, errr, photo.
Decorate your photo:
Tap the "Aa" button to add text on top of the photo or use the pen icon to put your artistic skills to work. When you are finished with being Picasso, click the "Done" button and it will be ready to add to your story. If you want to get rid of the photo, hit cancel; to save it, hit the download icon.
You can't put a dog filter on your face yet, but if history teaches us anything, it may not be far away.
Check out other people's stories:
To see the stories of people you follow at the top of your feed, just click on their photo to bring up the story. You can also access someone's story by tapping on their profile photo. If they have an active story, their profile photo will be surrounded by a pretty rainbow ring.
Access to stories works like photo access -- if you have your account set to private, you stories will remain private. Users with public accounts are sharing their stories with the world.
Just like Snapchat, you can see who is watching:
Human validation is key for these features to succeed. Just like on Snapchat, if you want to know who has been watching your entire vacation, it is simple to find out. Be warned: It is the quickest way to find out how unpopular your life story actually is. Take a moment.
Simply open up your story and swipe up on the screen. It will provide you with the number of viewers along with the names of people who have been watching your every move. Luckily, no one else can see these stats. You also cannot hide the fact you are looking at someone's story, so sort out your addiction to snooping.
Show your appreciation for a story:
Really enjoyed the 11 photos of your second cousin's baby? Send them a message to say thank you. Open the story, choose "Send Message" in the bottom left, write your message and hit send. Although the app will save your text message for life, the photo or video you are talking about will vanish from your chat.
Keeping your stories as treasured memories:
Sometimes you don't want the memories of your summer party to vanish in 24 hours. You can either save a photo from a story before or after you publish, or upload any part of it to your Instagram feed as a regular photo.
If you want to save your photo before it is published, just hit the download arrow icon. After it is published, open up your story and click the three dots in the bottom right of the screen. Click "Save Photo." To share it as a photo on your feed, click the dots and "Share as Post."
If you want to do the opposite and destroy one of your photos from living memory, also click those helpful little dots and hit "Delete."
You can hide your story from your ex or your mom:
Want to hide your stories being viewed by someone in particular? There is a button for that. Go to your profile and in the top right of the screen, tap the cog icon on an iPhone or three dots on an Android.
Hit "Story Settings," click "Hide My Story From" and select away. Once you have them selected, they won't receive your stories unless you go back into your settings and unselect them. You can also hide a particular story from an enemy by clicking to the right of their name and selecting "Hide Story From."
Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.
Jenni Ryall is Mashable's VP of Content Strategy. She spends her time launching cool, new things such as Mashable Deals and Mashable Reels. On the other days, she is developing strong partnerships with companies including Apple News, Flipboard, Snapchat, Facebook, Twitter and Reddit.
