Observed Signal · Mar 18, 2024 · Technical Release · Source: OnlineMarketing.de · Impact: 2/5 · Sentiment: Neutral
Instagram may enable backdating posts and direct-to-profile posting
Instagram could soon introduce two new posting features: Post to the Past, which would allow users to backdate new posts to a date in the past, and Post directly to Profile, which would publish content directly to a user’s profile without it appearing in followers’ feeds. The details surfaced via a screenshot shared by app researcher Alessandro Paluzzi on X, showing the new options in the posting UI. Post to the Past would present a calendar/date picker for selecting the exact past date, with potential use cases for creators and moment-sharing. Post directly to Profile would enable posting content to a profile without distributing it to the feed. The article notes authenticity and context concerns if backdated posts lack indications, and emphasizes that no official Instagram announcement has been made yet. Additionally, the piece mentions Instagram testing file sharing in DMs, not available to all users yet.
Early-stage feature exploration with no official announcement; potential industry impact but not yet released.
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- Instagram is reportedly testing two new features: Post to the Past and Post directly to Profile.
- App researcher Alessandro Paluzzi shared a screenshot on X showing the features in Instagram's posting UI.
- Post to the Past could backdate posts to a past date via a date picker.
- Post directly to Profile could share content directly on a profile without appearing in followers' feeds.
- No official Instagram announcement has been made yet; the features are described as under development.
- The article notes Instagram is testing file sharing in DMs, but not for all users.
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