Instagram is reportedly testing a way to let you easily re-share someone else's photo - a feature users have been begging for

Advertisement
Instagram is reportedly testing a way to let you easily re-share someone else's photo - a feature users have been begging for

instagram ceo kevin systrom

Larry Busacca/Getty Images

Instagram cofounder and CEO Kevin Systrom (L) and designer Diane von Furstenberg attend the 2015 CFDA Fashion Awards at Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center on June 1, 2015 in New York City.

Advertisement
  • Instagram is reportedly testing a feature that lets users reshare other users' photos - something users have wanted for a long time.
  • It'd work similarly to Twitter's retweet button, or shares on Facebook.
  • The experimental feature could transform the photo-sharing app.

There has always been one feature conspicuously absent from Instagram compared to other social networks: Re-sharing.

Twitter lets users retweet other people's tweets onto their profile, while Facebook users can share posts from other users and pages, but Instagram has never added similar functionality.

Complimentary Tech Event
Transform talent with learning that works
Capability development is critical for businesses who want to push the envelope of innovation.Discover how business leaders are strategizing around building talent capabilities and empowering employee transformation.Know More

But that might be about to change: The Verge is reporting that the Facebook-owned photo-sharing social network has been testing a feature that would do exactly that. The tech publication says it has seen screenshots of two reshared posts.

It's not clear how Instagram is experimenting with the feature, or when it will actually launch more broadly - if at all. Tech companies sometimes test out features and tweaks that they don't ultimately implement. An Instagram spokesperson declined to comment to Business Insider.

Advertisement

But if ultimately incorporated, the change could have a radical impact on Instagram's feed - opening the door to strangers' material appearing is users feed unexpectedly, and boosting the reach of popular and viral accounts. As The Verge notes, it could also aid the spread of fake news, a persistent problem for Facebook.

However, this is something that Instagram users have wanted for a long time, often turning to unauthorized third-party apps to make it work. In that light, it could well be a popular move.

{{}}