Kate Mills 
Dec 14, 2023
Get ready for a livelier Instagram inbox. The app is stepping up its game by introducing two-second looping videos and direct replies to Notes — that snazzy status update-style feature nestled atop users' message boxes.
Initially released a year ago for sharing quick text updates with mutual followers and close friends, Notes has evolved since, welcoming music and translation features. Now, with the latest update, users can jazz up their space further by sharing two-second looping videos, just like mini Boomerangs. Your clip will dazzle atop your friends' inboxes instead of the regular profile photo.
Simultaneously, Meta (Instagram's parent company) introduced interactive notes, letting you engage with your friends' updates just like responding to Stories. A simple tap on a note opens a shortcut to reply using GIFs, stickers, voice notes, photos, or text. Expect these replies to land in your inbox alongside other messages.
These enhancements arrive as Meta seeks relaxed ways for users to share within its apps, particularly among smaller circles of friends. The recent rollout allowing feed posts and Reels to be shared exclusively with "close friends" highlights this effort. Moreover, Meta is testing a feature named "flipside," aiming to provide a finsta-like space directly within users' profiles.
