Instagram is taking its live streaming feature to a whole new level, allowing users to stream videos live, which will then disappear once it is done. This is different from how Twitter’s Periscope or Facebook Live are doing it since the videos are still viewable even after the live stream is finished. It’s basically like Snapchat’s 24 hour limit for short clips and photos, only it’s applied to live stream videos.
According to the head of products at Instagram, Kevin Wei, the intent behind the new features is to help users overcome one of the bigger barriers to fully embracing live streaming. Speaking to Tech Crunch, Wei says that users won’t have to worry about their videos sticking around and causing them embarrassment, which is usually the case for those who are just starting out.
“We pivoted,” Weil said. “Instagram should be all of your moments, not just your highlights.”
Called Instagram Live, the service basically comes with two major offerings. One is the simple fire and forget mechanism, wherein users activate the Live feature, start streaming and then stop. Once that’s done, the video can no longer be retrieved or viewed by anyone.
The second part is the ability to direct the Live streaming to only those that the users choose. These users will be able to view the video twice before it disappears completely, which is pretty much the only distinction.
As The Verge notes, Instagram Live resembles Meerkat most, which is one of the premier apps that helped to popularize live streaming. With the defunct app, users could also do live streaming without allowing for replay once the activity is done.
The people behind the feature also noted how teens seem to use the live features of apps to hang out, more than record videos. They don’t necessarily want their conversations to be stored and be playable later on. They get out of school, go live with their friends, and talk about whatever. Basically, regular teenage stuff.