Instagram recently unveiled a new feature for its users: Instagram Stories.
Launched on August 2nd, 2016, Instagram Stories aims to give IG users more reasons to post without fear of oversharing. The goal of this new feature is outlined below:
With Instagram Stories, you don’t have to worry about overposting. Instead, you can share as much as you want throughout the day — with as much creativity as you want. You can bring your story to life in new ways with text and drawing tools. The photos and videos will disappear after 24 hours and won’t appear on your profile grid or in feed.
Many social media influencers have accused Instagram of ripping Snapchat off with this feature. I’ll let you be the judge on this because, admittedly, I don’t use Snapchat. (Maybe I will for the sake of this segment? Who knows!) Heres more on the alleged similarities between IG Stories and Snapchat from TechCrunch:
People only post the highlights of their life on Instagram, so today the app adds its own version of “Stories” to poach goofy, off-the-cuff, everyday content from Snapchat. It works exactly like Snapchat Stories, allowing you to post 24-hour ephemeral photo and video slideshows that disappear. But because Instagram Stories appear at the top of the old feed, your followers will inevitably see them without you needing to build a new audience in a different app.
You could call it Snapchat for adults, a way for brands to post more without overwhelming people’s feeds, an alternative to Instagram’s Like-driven success theater or a blatant ripoff.
Watch a video on the new feature below:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BIm9-50BOuf/
Before enabling Instagram Stories, be sure to update your iPhone or Android to the latest version. I didn’t do this and failed to see the (+) button on the left-handed corner.
Once the (+) sign appears, click on it to take pictures or video. The default screen is the photo taking mode. To take videos, hold on to the white button for a while. Then you’ll be able to film a frame for one second to upwards of 10-15 seconds.
As you take pictures or capture video clips, you’ll be able to add captions or emoticons. (This isn’t essential, but can add more to posts.) Furthermore, you can gradually add clips video or pictures to your hearts desire. Moreover, you can choose to keep or delete your stories to your liking. If you wish to save them and post them on a platform like Facebook, you’re able to do that too.
The one downside to this feature is that you can’t save all the clips (video or photo) into one file to share on IG or other platforms. Heres more on this setback from Social Media Examiner:
One of the great things that Snapchat allows you to do is download your entire story from the day into one video file. Unfortunately, Instagram does not have that option. Not yet at least. You can only download each photo or video of your story individually.
If you want to combine your Instagram story into one movie file to share on your Instagram profile as a post (assuming it’s under 60 seconds long) or on other social networks, you’ll need to find a third-party app to combine the photos and videos from your story.
If you’ve used only photos, you can use apps like PhotoGrid, collage-making apps, or slideshow apps to combine your most-viewed photos into one photo or a video slideshow of photos.
For videos, you’ll need to find an app that can merge video on your phone or on your desktop. There are a lot out there, but some are configured to handle just landscape video, and others will watermark your video or allow you to add only so many clips in before they charge you. So a lot will depend on how badly you want to create that one combined story for the day to repurpose and share elsewhere.
[Read this Mashable article if you’re struggling to use the feature.]
So let’s see how I did with my first IG Stories post from yesterday’s Redskins vs. Jets game:
[Insert from Facebook video]
- It allowed me to post both video clips and photos straight from FedEx Field with little hassle all into one post.
- It saved me time and space to post the best highlights of our first NFL game.
- I was able to see analytics for each individual part of my IG Story.
- It allows you the follower to see a more human side to me (the user) without divulging too much ( which is awesome).
Can conservatives using this new Instagram feature to their advantage? The answer: YES!
It allows you to strategically craft better stories
People pay WAY more attention to pictures and video clips. As we know, Facebook which owns Instagram now gives greater priority to videos and similar visuals. This new feature can not only help you up your game on Instagram, you can include multiple clips videos or photos into one post without fear of oversharing. (Sharing your entire story in one point will happen in the future.) I see this option being used by local and national lawmakers and even prominent conservative news outlets.
It can foster greater engagement
Going off of the previous point, pictures and videos generally foster greater engagement than regular posts. If you post something visually captivating, your followers and top engagers will be more inclined to like, comment, and even repost your Instagram posts. It’s all about engagement. The one drawback to IG Stories is users cannot like or comment on individual posts although you can see who viewed your post. Regardless, this feature will allow your followers to see what you’re up to and get them to engage with your regular Instagram posts better.
It can allow us to compete and not let the Left define us
Many people on the Left have started to use this feature, giving them an early advantage on Instagram Stories. If conservative and libertarian users want to beat them at storytelling, we must go on the offensive and use features like this to be competitive and taken seriously. Adapt without moderation of our values? Why yes!
It can humanize our causes
We are always told we are WAY too serious, wonkish, and boring. (All these criticism are sadly true.) I think a feature like IG Stories can humanize us better. Dont be afraid to share an IG Story while exploring, checking out a concert, or hiking whatever your hearts desire. I think this feature can help the movement become more effective in humanizing our values, which are good yet hijacked by the Left.
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What do you think? Should conservatives and libertarians use this feature to craft and tell better stories? Its worth trying and experimenting with!
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