According to TechCrunch – which is reporting this based on several unnamed sources – Instagram is set to introduce an instant messaging service today at a company event in New York City. That’s right, in addition to Facebook chat, regular text messaging, BBM and WhatsApp (four of the most popular messaging methods among hundreds, if not thousands) you’ll now be accessible 24 hours a day on your favourite photo-sharing app as well. Imagine Aziz Ansari trying to schedule a date through Instagram…
Another notable bit of info? Apparently the service will be ephemeral, showing messages for a brief period of time before disappearing (aka stored on a server somewhere). Think of it as Snapchat for instant messages… which makes sense, actually, since Facebook (which owns Instagram) might be looking to compete with the flash-photo app following a refused $3-billion offer to acquire the company. The Facebook aspect aligns as well after Instagram Founder Kevin Systrom recently gushed about bringing Facebook Chat Groups and Messenger director Peter Deng aboard as “the perfect fit for our company.”
Usually, we collectively freak out every time a tweak or addition is made to our beloved social networks (Circle, anyone?) and bemoan how this is it, I’m done with ___! So we let the news simmer overnight before deleting Instagram from our phones to hopefully wake up with a fresh perspective. Still, it’s hard to see why this makes sense for an app users love for its sole, basic function – taking photos – and simplicity. Judging by comments across sites reporting the news alone, it’s not a good move (I don’t need a bunch of spam in my inbox like every other site, complains one of the milder commenters). Rarely are anonymous outcries online indicative of real-life behaviour, though, and haters will indeed hate, so we’d love to hear your thoughts, young professionals. Let us know on our Facebook page.