Instagram Wants 'Link Stickers' To Replace Its Swipe-Up For Links Feature

Instagram

On smartphone apps, gestures allow commands beyond taps. And Instagram has made use the swiping-up gesture for links inside Stories. This is going away.

Starting August 30, Instagram is planning to remove the swipe-up feature, in order to make way to Link Stickers. The announcement was first spotted by app researcher Jane Manchun Wong, who found that Instagram has been testing the Link Stickers feature since June.

The swipe-up feature has long been useful for content creators and brands.

It allows them to direct users to their websites or online stores.

By eliminating the swipe up gesture, Instagram is finally getting rid of the age-old feature, making one less function that differentiate users with more than 10,000 followers or verified accounts, from other 'normal' Instagram users.

While it might seem like Instagram is degrading, Instagram in replacing it with Link Stickers actually wants to introduce even more benefits.

For instance, creators should be able to choose from various styles, resize the stickers, and put them anywhere on the Story, without having to go through any hassle.

Viewers should also be able to react and reply to Stories that have Link Stickers.

This is previously not possible on posts with the swipe-up links.

In other words, it allows content creators to have more control over their Stories.

Instagram said that it's also to "streamline the Stories creation experience."

At this time, Link Stickers feature has only been introduced to a select number of users.

Instagram said that it’s evaluating whether to expand its access to more accounts in the future.

Published: 
26/08/2021