Instagram has added a fun new feature which lets you "remix" photos your friends have sent to you. Remixing in this case means moving and/or resizing the photo, and then adding stickers, text, or doodles of your choosing. In other words you can now graffiti all over your friends' selfies.
The internet is now a visual entity, with photos and videos seemingly becoming more important than words. I prefer words" myself, but I must admit even I have been coerced into sharing the odd selfie on social media. And now Instagram is inviting my friends to vandalize those selfies.
How to Remix Photos Using Instagram Direct
To remix a friend's photo, they need to have sent you a photo message on Instagram Direct. Then, just tap the camera icon at the bottom of the photo to reply. Next, snap a new photo, and that photo will include a sticker of the photo your friend originally sent to you. Then the fun begins.
You can resize that sticker, and move it around to your heart's content. You can also add more stickers, add some text, and draw all over it. But be warned, as once you send it back to them, they can do exactly the same to that photo, thereby starting a kind of battle of the selfies.
Instagram has also added the option for you to control replays. Which means you can now choose between "One View" (which only lets your friends view the photo once) and "Allow Replay" (which play on a continuous loop unless and until the recipient taps and holds to temporarily pause it.
These new features are both available as part of Instagram version 24 for Android and for iOS.
How We All Communicate These Days
The option to remix your friends' Instagram photos may feel like a small and unimportant feature. However, it speaks volumes to the way we all communicate these days. A simple "Hello, how are you?" isn't enough. Instead, you need to take a selfie, and then let a friend doodle all over it.
Do you use Instagram? And do you chat with your friends using Instagram Direct? Can you see yourself using this new remix feature? If so, are you going to keep things clean? Or doodle something rude on your friend's face? Please let us know in the comments below!