Instagram Updates: Beta Testing Live Videos, Photos Leaked Online
The success of Facebook Live Video feature clearly shows that there is a demand for online live streaming. It's been discovered that another player in the social media market has its heels set for a Live Video test run - it's the Go Insta! which is Instagram's take on Periscope, Snapchat, and Facebook's Live Video feature.
A Russian revealed in T Journal that Instagram is testing a live video streaming feature. Users can access this by tapping a red button named Go Insta! button in the app. But don't get your hopes up because according to Tech Radar, "With no official word from Instagram, it's hard to say whether this will ever be rolled out to everyone." If beta testers do not like Go Insta! then Instagram might just dump the idea of live video streaming.
For those excited to try the Go Insta! feature, Engadget hints that "T Journal's reader was using a Nexus 6P." However, Mashable adds, "While it's difficult to say for sure if this is a random experiment or a quiet test of an upcoming Go Insta! feature, the company's reluctance to comment on screenshots would seem to suggest a bigger plan is in the works."
If Instagram is really planning to invest in a live video feature, it makes sense that it would choose Instagram Stories as its platform. The photo uploaded by T Journal shows that in the Go Insta! beta app, Stories icon appear above the Explore tab and Home screen. The Stories icon has "Live" label which is directed to the "popular live broadcasts" page, which is currently unavailable. The Go Insta! button can be found in the camera app which starts recording once you tap it. The top right of the screen has a "Schedule" button, which is similar to that of Facebook's recent scheduling option for video streaming.
With the recent release of Stories feature on Instagram, live video streaming might be just what Instagram needs to keep up with the social media giants such as Snapchat, Facebook, and Twitter. Go Insta! is a promising feature that might help maintain, or even surpass its current daily engagement figures.
