The INSIDER Summary:
- Instagram has been directly competing with Snapchat since it released Stories in August 2016.
- On Tuesday, the Facebook-owned Instagram revealed new face filters that look eerily similar to some of Snapchat's most iconic ones.
- You can now also record in reverse, add a custom hashtag sticker, and erase marker.
- At this rate, Instagram may easily overtake Snapchat by the end of the year.
Last Tuesday, Snapchat added the ability to send and view Snaps that last indefinitely, among other new features.
It was a risky move that confused some users, given that the app was founded on the concept of disappearing photos.
Now, just one week later, Instagram has released new Stories features that seem, yet again, blatantly similar to Snapchat — and this time, the app finally released what is arguably Snapchat's most defining feature: face filters.
This all comes less than a year since Instagram first released its own version of Snapchat Stories in August 2016. And just last month, the company announced that over 200 million people use Instagram Stories every day — 2 million more than Snapchat's last reported numbers in February.
At this rate, Instagram may easily overtake Snapchat by the end of this year, especially as it adopts features that were once unique to Snapchat.
Here's a look at Instagram's latest update. Although if you've ever used Snapchat before, this will all seem very familiar:
Add a face filter to your picture, video, or Boomerang.
Instagram's new face filters are very, very similar to Snapchat's. To use them, just tap and hold the screen over your face, or tap the face icon in the lower right corner.
So far, you can choose from eight different filters, use them with a friend, and use them with both the front- and back-facing cameras. Sound familiar?
Like Snapchat, Instagram's filters also use augmented reality to show, for example, butterflies flying around your head (flower crown filter) or math equations appearing over your head ("nerdy" glasses filter).
Record and play your Instagram Story in reverse with Rewind mode.
Snapchat introduced Slow-Mo, Fast-Forward, and Rewind video filters in 2015.
Two years later, Instagram has finally added the ability to record and play video in reverse. Just choose the Rewind camera mode option and tap the round record button.
Based on Instagram's track record, it could be likely that Slow-Mo and Fast-Forward features are coming in later updates.
Add a custom Hashtag Sticker to your Story.
You can easily tag friends or followers in your Story by typing "@" followed by their Instagram username.
Now, you can also add Hashtag Stickers to your Story that people can tap to explore related posts. Just tap the sticker icon at the top of your Instagram Story screen and choose the Hashtag Sticker icon.
Erase what you've drawn with the new Eraser Brush.
With the arrival of the Eraser Brush, you no longer have to tap the "Undo" button multiple times to edit what you've drawn.
While Snapchat doesn't have an Eraser Brush yet, the app did release a "Magic Eraser" last Tuesday that works more like Photoshop's Clone Stamp tool.
But after this update, one thing is clear: Snapchat will need a lot more than a Magic Eraser to compete with Instagram Stories.