Instagram feature could let users share stories with specific groups

A few days ago, Facebook parted ways with its nine-month-old Group Stories feature. But that doesn't mean group stories don't stand a chance of survival. According to app research jane Mnchon Wong, Instagram is now testing group stories feature in one of its test builds. In fact, Wong also offered a glimpse of the feature in screenshots in one of her recent tweets. This is what Wong said:

How to share your WhatsApp Status as Instagram, Facebook stories

Instagram Group Stories

While there are no guarantee group stories will come to Instagram; however, the feature stands a better chance of survival on Instagram, which is a more photo and video-friendly social networking app owned by Facebook. Currently, Instagram allows users to share stories with their close friends. This feature, if implemented, will allow users to share their stories with select people beyond their close friends.

There is a huge difference between Facebook and Instagram groups, though. Unlike Facebook, Instagram groups are, in fact, message threads where multiple users chat together. On Facebook groups, people post updates on the wall and somewhere down the line, Facebook Groups lacks a personal interaction. Additionally, ephemeral stories appear to be working well on Instagram than Facebook.

Does Facebook want to limit Instagram to your 'close friends'? Maybe

Of late, Facebook is banking heavily on Instagram Stories, which also drives its ad business to a great extent. Instagram group messages, on the other hand, cater to a specific interest or community among a limited number of users and there are moments when you want to share stories with a particular set of users and not necessarily your close friends.

As per the screenshot shared by Wong, Instagram will provide users with a new option 'share to Group Story,' in addition to the existing 'share with Close Friends' feature.  Group stories feature will also let users create new group message threads while sharing stories, the screenshot reveals.

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Threads for Instagram

Facebook seems focused on ways to limit your interactions to only those who you talk to the most (close friends). This way, Facebook hopes to boost app engagement and uphold the 'quality' interaction on in its photo and video-sharing social networking platform.

Threads for Instagram: Facebook launches a new Snapchat-like app

In related news, Facebook recently launched a new app - Threads for Instagram, a Snapchat-like photo-first messaging app that wants users to stay connected with their closest friends/