Observed Signal · Jul 20, 2023 · Technical Release · Source: OnlineMarketing.de · Impact: 4/5 · Sentiment: Neutral
Instagram Tests GIF Categories
Instagram is testing GIF categories to improve navigation of GIF options across its apps. The platform already allows GIF reactions in Stories, Direct Messages, and comments. The test follows Meta’s 2020 purchase of GIPHY for about $400 million and the subsequent sale of GIPHY in May 2023 due to antitrust concerns. The proposed categorization uses emoji-labeled categories to signal content type (e.g., funny, heartwarming, greetings) and could make finding GIFs quicker. It is not yet clear whether the feature will apply only to comments or be extended to DMs and Story reactions, and a launch timeline remains undisclosed. The discovery of the test is attributed to social-media researcher Alessandro Paluzzi on Twitter, who shared screenshots of the UI.
Technical Release / Major Platform (Meta) testing a new GIF categorization feature
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- Instagram is testing GIF categories to categorize GIFs with emoji labels.
- GIF reactions are available in Stories, DMs, and comments.
- Test was reported by Alessandro Paluzzi on Twitter.
- Meta bought GIPHY in 2020 for about $400 million and sold it in May 2023 due to antitrust concerns.
- Launch scope and timeline are not disclosed; it’s unclear if the feature is limited to comments or platform-wide.
Connected Companies & Entities
1 Entity mappedRelated Market Signals & Shifts
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Instagram Tests Image Uploads in Comments
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Instagram Edits App Now Supports Carousel Creation
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