Users will be able to keep track of their views and reply through Instagram even if followers choose to view stories on Facebook.
(Source: Reuters)
By Yasmin Ahmed: Facebook is testing a new feature that will give users the option to view Instagram stories directly through Facebook app. Until now Facebook has allowed cross-posting of Instagram stories on both platforms, including Facebook and Instagram. The new feature being tested, gives followers a choice to view Instagram stories exclusively through Facebook.
As per screenshots shared by social media expert Matt Navarra, select Facebook users are getting a notification giving users the option to let their followers view their Instagram stories though Facebook. Instagram users would have to link their social media accounts to allow this feature to function.
"We’re testing a new feature that gives people the option to view stories from Instagram on Facebook," a Facebook spokesperson confirmed to Matt Navarra. He further noted that the feature respects all existing privacy settings and said Instagram users have the option to keep their stories off of Facebook altogether if they wish.
The screenshot shared reads that there will be no change in security and privacy as the same people who viewed stories on Instagram will be able to view it on Facebook. The user name will also remain the same. Besides, Instagram users will have the option to check their views and reply to their followers through Instagram.
People must have their accounts linked and actively opt for sharing their Instagram stories on Facebook. It is a limited test for now. Instagram users will be able to see the people who viewed their stories and replied to them on Facebook within the Instagram app.
"People on Facebook who don’t follow you on Instagram can’t see your story," a screenshot about the feature says.
Last month, Facebook started merging Instagram and Messenger chats. The feature allows Instagram and Messenger users chat across both platforms. The updated feature which is a cross-chat of sorts will be available to Android and iOS users soon, as per The Verge.
Instagram offers users an option to merge its chat feature or direct messages with Facebook messenger so that Instagram users can send messages across the Facebook Messenger platform.
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg had announced the integration of the social network’s messaging services including WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook Messenger, a one cross chat functionality app by 2020. He had emphasised the use of end-to-end encrypted services with the integration of these apps, over privacy concerns. Facebook bought Instagram in 2012 for $1billion and WhatsApp in 2014 for $ 19 billion.
Published On:
Sep 7, 2020
The move is another step by Facebook to integrate all its platforms.
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Facebook is testing a new feature that will allow users to automatically share their Instagram stories on their Facebook accounts.
To see Instagram stories on Facebook, people must have their accounts connected and opt in on Facebook. Users will see stories from people they follow on Instagram within the existing stories section at the top of the Facebook news feed.
“We’re testing a new feature that gives people the option to view stories from Instagram on Facebook, making it easier to view moments from people you care about, regardless of what app you’re using,” Facebook said . “This is a limited test for now, and we’ll be listening to feedback from our community.”
While posting a story on Instagram, the audience of the creator will not change. Only the user’s Instagram followers who have opted in with the feature will be able to view that story on Facebook.
If a user shares a story with “close friends” on Instagram, only those people will see the story on Facebook, given that they have opted in to this feature already on Facebook.
The social-media company said the feature respects all privacy settings and users on Instagram will be provided with the option of choosing to not have their story visible on Facebook.
The move is another step by Facebook to integrate all its platforms. Last month, Facebook tested a feature that will merge Facebook messenger and Instagram chat.
Some Facebook users have recently noticed that they can now watch their Instagram stories right from within the main social network app. Facebook has long allowed (and encouraged) cross-posting of Instagram stories to Facebook to help build momentum for its own version of the format — but a new test brings Instagram stories right into Facebook for direct viewing.
You’ll know whether you’re looking at a Facebook or Instagram story based on what color encircles the profile photo; Facebook stories have blue circles, and Instagram’s have the same pink / orange hues of the app icon.
Facebook is being very clear that nothing about who can see your stories is changing; only your Instagram followers who’ve linked their Facebook account — and who can already see your stories — will see the new option within Facebook. And even then, they’ve got to opt into the setting. “People on Facebook who don’t follow you on Instagram can’t see your story,” a screenshot about the feature says.
Matt Navarra confirmed with a Facebook spokesperson that this is a “limited test,” and that the company will be listening to feedback. The spokesperson noted that the feature “respects all existing privacy settings” and said Instagram users have the option to keep their stories off of Facebook altogether if they wish.
The move is yet another step in Facebook’s effort to bring its platforms closer together. Last month, Facebook began merging Facebook Messenger and Instagram chat; WhatsApp will eventually also become part of this unified chat experience.
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It's not just Facebook's messaging tools that are slowly becoming more intertwined - this week, some users have reported seeing this notification in their Facebook feed:
The note, as you can see, explains that some users are now able to view Instagram Stories on Facebook, with the Instagram Story appearing within the Facebook Stories feed, though with an Instagram rainbow border around the profile circle, as opposed to a Facebook blue one.
The screenshot, posted by Twitter user @ec_wife (and shared by social media expert Matt Navarra), has since been confirmed by Facebook, which has said that this is a limited test for now, and that it will be analyzing feedback on initial responses to the option.
And it's not exactly straight-forward - as per the description in the screenshots, in order to view an Instagram Story on Facebook, you have to be connected with that user on both Facebook and Instagram AND that user has to have linked their Facebook and Instagram accounts.
Most people likely have connected their presences on both platforms, (as Facebook prompts you to do so at every opportunity), but it does also mean that the process is beholden to your privacy settings on both. If you've restricted who can access your Stories on Instagram, your Facebook connections also won't be able to see it. Unless they're in your 'Close Friends' group. Or something.
Basically, the only people who'll be eligible to view your Instagram Stories on Facebook are the ones that you're connected to on both. Which probably means your closer connections - but then again, brands that have a presence on both, which you follow on both, will also be eligible to have their Stories displayed via this linkage. I think.
At any rate, it's a small scale test for now, so you probably won't see this new pop-up. But if the test goes well, it could be another exposure option to keep in mind.
As noted, in some ways, it's an expansion of Facebook's effort to integrate its back-end processes, which some have suggested is a means to help it avoid being broken up, if the ongoing antitrust investigation into Facebook were to progress to that stage.
If Facebook could argue that its networks are all connected, and that functionality on each app is tied to the other, that could make it harder to separate its apps, if it were asked to do so.
At the same time, it also boosts Stories exposure, and could help Facebook increase engagement.
Again, it's a small scale test for now, but we'll definitely be keeping an eye on its progress.