Instagram confirms it’s testing a new photo-centric feature called Candid Challenges, which shares similarities with popular app BeReal.
App researcher Alessandro Paluzzi unveiled Candid Challenges, a feature that encourages users to share a selfie every day at a random time.
#Instagram She is working on IG Candid Challenges, a feature inspired by @employee 👀
ℹ️ Add others’ IG Candid to your story tray. And every day at a different time, get a notification to take a photo and share it in 2 minutes. pic.twitter.com/caTCgUPtEV
– Alessandro Paluzzi (@alex193a) August 22, 2022
Candid Challenges exclusively uses Instagram’s dual camera capability, which takes a photo with both the front and back lenses at the same time.
ℹ️ This is the camera for IG Candid, you can just turn on the dual camera tool pic.twitter.com/wXisCG8p2U
– Alessandro Paluzzi (@alex193a) August 22, 2022
The combination of random photos and dual camera mode is a concept around which the entire BeReal app is built.
The idea is for people to create an actual snapshot of where they are and what they’re doing at a given moment, hence the name “Be Real”.
Launched in 2019, BeReal reached the #1 spot on the Apple App Store in July 2019 and has been downloaded 28 million times.
BeReal has 21.6 million monthly active users, and 2.93 million use the app daily.
Given BeReal’s rapid growth, it’s no surprise that more well-established apps are starting to emulate its features.
We don’t know how far into development Candid Challenges is or when it might launch, but Instagram confirms to Engadget that it’s being tested as an “in-house prototype.”
This means that only people within the company can access it, unlike a live test with regular users.
It’s interesting to know that Instagram is developing new photo-sharing capabilities after recently pledging to take advantage of video holistically.
However, Instagram’s shift to video isn’t getting a warm welcome from users, with high-profile influencers calling for the app to return to its roots.
Adam Mosseri, head of Instagram, admitted that the company has gone “too far” with video lately.
instagram: “He’s bent over a lot in the video in the last two months” pic.twitter.com/OwvgbhCJf1
– Matt Navarra (@MattNavarra) August 19, 2022
Candid Challenges may be Instagram’s way of trying to quell the criticism about too many videos while trying to stay relevant with the younger generations.
Touted as the app of choice for Gen Z, BeReal is building its user base by developing a way for people to share authentic content with friends.
Another sticking point with users is Instagram’s tendency to display content from accounts users don’t follow. People want to see more content from their friends, family, and favorite brands.
BeReal offers an experience that is in stark contrast to Instagram.
Now, as it has done many times, Instagram is cloning features from an emerging social media app that is catching the attention of today’s youth.
Stories that were cloned from Snapchat appeared first. Then came Reels, which was a TikTok clone. Soon we will have Express Challenges, reproduced by BeReal.
Sources: business applicationsAnd EngadgetAnd Watchman
Featured image: mundissima / Shutterstock
