Instagram’s standalone messaging app could be a winner
0Instagram’s standalone messaging app could be a winner.
Instagram is working on a dedicated messaging app.
Photo-sharing service Instagram is working on an spin-off messaging app called Direct, which could one day remove the built-in direct message service in the mainstream app.
Although pretty barebones, there’s a little to get excited here. When you open Direct, it goes straight to the camera — perhaps in an effort to condition you into creating and sharing content. You can also look at your profile and settings, and view and send messages to other Instagram users.
According to The Verge’s Casey Newton, the raison d’étre behind this app is that Instagram believes messaging can never truly shine when it’s tethered to something else. So, rather than half-ass it, it’s going create a distinct messaging product that can thrive away from pictures of people’s lunches and cats.