Instagram will reportedly replace the “swipe up” gesture with a new link sticker to access the link.
Instagram will reportedly replace the usual “swipe up” gesture with a new link sticker in order to visit external webpages.
Instagram had started to notify users that the “swipe up” gesture to access external links was going away on August 30 and the company will instead use a new link sticker.
As noticed by researcher Jane Manchun Wong, Instagram was getting rid of the “swipe up” gesture in order to access external links. Also, YouTuber Sam Sheffer shared the message some users were receiving on the Instagram app:
same pic.twitter.com/xIVEURtYzj
— Sam Sheffer (@samsheffer) August 23, 2021
With Instagram finally getting rid of the “swipe up” links feature, it will be one less function differentiating users with over 10K followers or verified from other Instagram users.
As it appeared, Instagram’s new link sticker feature will be available to all users. To recall, Instagram started to test the said function with a small group last June.
At the time of the test, Instagram’s former head of product Vishal Shah told The Verge that the stickers fit more with the way users currently used the platform.
Vishal also said that the goal was to more widely roll out the link stickers, adding that the key difference between the two features was that viewers can respond to stories that have a link sticker but can’t respond to “swipe up” stories.
READ ALSO: Instagram Reportedly Tests New Feature That Can Share Links In Stories Without 10K Followers
According to a report on The Verge, Instagram said that only users who had “swipe up” privileges will receive the sticker option for now.
A spokesperson from Instagram told The Verge that the said update will help them determine whether it’s the right decision before expanding access to more users.
9to5Mac reported that Instagram seemed satisfied with its new link sticker feature and will start rolling out the said feature next week since it’s been more than two months that tests started.
It wasn’t clear how Instagram’s new link sticker feature will roll out to all users and whether there will be any limitations on who can use the link sticker.
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