The coronavirus is making the world home en masse, and Instagram wants to break the associated social isolation. From now on you can make video calls with friends and look at photos. Instagram is also going to fight fake news about the virus.
This is how Instagram reacts to the coronavirus
The world has shifted massively to video chat apps for keeping in touch in recent weeks, and Instagram is now capitalizing on that. In the new Co-Watching feature, you can watch photos together with friends in a video call. It works like this:
- Download the latest version of Instagram;
- Open the app and go to a private conversation;
- Tap the camera icon, and optionally add more people;
- At the bottom left of the screen, select which photos or videos you want to share with the other person(s).
So you can look at previous posts with friends and chat about them. It is possible to view saved, liked and suggested photos and videos. The screens of the participants move to the bottom of the screen while watching. You keep seeing everyone’s reaction.
Furthermore, Instagram is adding a special Stay Home sticker. You can use this in Stories to encourage others to stay at home. They also add other informative stickers, for example with the announcement that you must wash your hands.
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Against fake news
Instagram will also give more priority to reliable news sources about the corona virus. Think of the World Health Organization and renowned virologists. These types of accounts will now automatically appear at the top of the Discover tab.
At the same time, the company announces that it will take stricter action against incomplete and/or fake news. The Facebook subsidiary works together with independent fact checkers. They check whether information is correct.
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