Instagram Updates You Can’t Afford to Miss (2024 Edition)

Are you always trying to keep up with what's new on Instagram or tired of discovering the latest features after everyone else?

No more scavenger hunts for new updates on Instagram. We’ve gathered all the most important new features for Instagram in one spot so you can save time, navigate IG more efficiently, and keep your digital strategy top-notch.

But before we dive into what’s new, if you haven’t already, consider setting up an Instagram business account to take full advantage of these new features.

September 2024 Instagram updates

You can now comment on Instagram Stories 

Instagram’s rolled out another cool update—users can now publicly comment on Stories! Until now, interacting with Stories meant sending a private message or just dropping a like, but this new feature lets users engage with your Stories on a whole new level. Their comments will be visible to everyone who views the Story, giving it more of a community vibe.

By default, only mutual followers can leave a comment, but you can adjust this setting to allow comments from all your followers. Like Stories, comments disappear after 24 hours unless you save the Story to your highlights.

Why does this matter for your brand?

1. Boosted visibility: Public comments on Stories can drive more interactions, which benefits businesses. Higher engagement rates can improve your visibility on Instagram, as the algorithm favors content that generates more interactions.
2. Community building: This feature can help businesses foster community among their followers. Public comments allow for more open and engaging conversations, making followers feel more connected to your brand.
3. Real-time feedback: Businesses can collect instant feedback on products, services, or content through comments on Stories, making it easier to adapt and improve quickly. This direct line to your audience’s thoughts and opinions is invaluable for understanding customer needs and preferences, enabling more targeted marketing strategies.

How to comment on Instagram Stories:

1. Head to the Story you want to comment on.
2. Tap the chat icon in the bottom left corner.
3. Type your comment.
4. Hit ‘Post.’

Update to Meta's new AI image labels

Ever scrolled through social media and wondered if an image was real or AI-generated? Meta is stepping in to clear up the confusion. They will soon change their "AI info" labels to reflect better AI’s role in organic and paid content creation. These updates ensure people can quickly tell when AI is involved in generating or editing images.

The label will also move to the post’s menu for AI-modified content only. However, fully AI-generated content will still display the "AI info" label directly on the image and details on whether it flags through industry-shared signals or self-disclosure.

These changes mark a step toward more transparency across platforms, with Meta working alongside companies like Google, OpenAI, Microsoft, and Adobe to standardize the process.

🛎️ If you're running ads across Meta platforms, check out our Facebook updates article here.

August 2024 Instagram updates

Instagram expands carousels to 20 slides

The platform is doubling down on its carousel feature—literally. You can now add up to 20 frames per post, double the old limit. That means more space to tell your story, showcase your products, or drop a killer mix of images and videos in one post.

Whether breaking down a new campaign in Facebook Ads Manager, sharing behind-the-scenes content, or highlighting multiple products, you have way more flexibility to make an impact. It’s clear Instagram is listening to users' needs for richer content-sharing options, and this update is a significant win for everyone.

To make sure your content looks its best, pay attention to the recommended post sizes for optimal results.

Threads gets smarter: New analytics, drafts, and scheduling features

Meta is rolling out powerful tools that make using Threads even more manageable for creators and businesses looking to level up their content. These new Instagram features, from more brilliant insights to handy scheduling, help you stay organized and optimize your engagement. 

Let’s break down Instagram’s new Threads features:

#1 In-depth audience insights

How are your Threads posts performing? The new Audience Insights feature puts detailed data right at your fingertips. You’ll see how many views, reposts, and replies each post gets and even track changes in your follower count over time.

This feature also gives you a peak into who’s engaging with your posts—complete with demographics like age, gender, and location. With this data, you can sharpen your content strategy to keep your audience hooked and your engagement climbing.

Pay special attention to key metrics like impressions, which help inform you of your ad’s reach.

#2 Keep your ideas safe with Drafts

Do you have a genius post idea but are not quite ready to publish it? Hold that thought! The new Drafts feature in Instagram Threads lets you save up to 100 posts, so you can tweak them until they’re just right. This way, your creative flow isn’t interrupted, and you can fine-tune your ideas at your own pace.

If you’re juggling multiple ideas or working on a more extended campaign, Drafts keeps everything organized, ensuring you always have content ready to roll.

#3 Stay consistent with scheduled posts

If you’re tired of manually posting every day, the new scheduling feature allows you to plan out your content in advance. Now, you can set posts to go live when you want, helping you stick to a consistent posting routine without the daily hassle of hitting publish. This tool is perfect for businesses that want to plan their strategy, grow followers, and maintain a consistent presence on Instagram.

If you want to elevate your credibility even further, check out our guide on getting verified on Instagram.

July 2024 Instagram updates

Add notes to your posts or Reels on Instagram 

Instagram dropped a cool new feature—notes! You can now add a short note (up to 60 characters) to any post or reel and share it with your mutual followers (the ones you follow back) or your Close Friends. Think of it as a quick way to add extra flavor to your content.

Here’s how to add a note:

1. Tap the ‘Share’ icon on a post or reel.
2. Tap ‘Add note…’ and type away (you’ve got 60 characters to work with).
3. Choose whether you want to share with mutual followers or Close Friends.
4. Hit ‘Share’ in the top right to post your note.

Your note will stick around for up to 3 days, and people can like or reply to it, which starts a private chat between you and the responder. But don’t worry; no one else can see who viewed, liked, or replied to your note.

Want to switch it up? Just tap on your existing note, select ‘Leave a new note…,’ and post something fresh. You can also control people who add notes to your content.

If you’re facing any issues with your Instagram account, such as receiving an ‘Ad Account Not Found’ error, check our guide for troubleshooting tips.

Introducing SAM 2: Meta’s next-gen AI for video segmentation

Meta has dropped the Segment Anything Model 2 (SAM 2), an advanced AI tool designed to streamline video segmentation like never before. SAM 2 is now publicly available through Meta's open science initiative, allowing businesses to play around with this cutting-edge tech by heading to Meta’s AI research platform. 

The model elevates video editing, content creation, and AR/VR applications, making it an exciting addition to any creative workflow.

What makes SAM 2 stand out? It tracks and identifies objects across every frame in a video, all in real time. While the original SAM was great at segmenting objects in still images, SAM 2 takes it up a notch by smoothly tracking moving objects, offering a whole new level of precision for video manipulation.

March 2024 Instagram updates

You can use promo codes directly on Instagram 🛍️

Good news for your Instagram Shop! Instagram now lets your customers apply promo codes directly through your ads on Instagram (and Facebook). Whether they’re browsing your products or completing a purchase, valid codes automatically apply at checkout. Those who prefer can copy and paste the code manually.

If you don’t have an Instagram Shop, check out our comprehensive guide on setting up your shop. 

As you integrate these new features into your strategy, it’s essential to understand the broader landscape of Meta advertising. Check out our Facebook advertising guide for foundational tips to maximize your campaigns across platforms. 

Ready to make smarter Instagram ads? 🦾

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It’s part of Madgicx’s end-to-end Creative Workflow, which starts with ad inspiration in the Madgicx Ad Library. Browse it to discover winning Meta ad examples and specify your search with AI. Once you’ve selected your favorites, the AI Ad Generator will do the heavy lifting, generating new, custom ads for you based on these examples. 

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