Meta Platforms Inc.
What Happened: Social media consultant Matt Navarra has reportedly spotted the upcoming Instagram feature "Flipside" in action. According to a screen recording shared by Navarra, "Flipside" appears to be a private feed allowing Instagram users to curate a more intimate space for sharing candid photos and videos with friends, family, and selected followers.
"Flipside enables users to create a new, private side to their profile where they can post more candid and personal photos for a subset of their friends."
In essence, this feature introduces a dual-feed system on Instagram - one public and one private. While users currently resort to private accounts to share photos exclusively with a select group, "Flipside" aims to streamline this process.
The feature appears to be an extension of Instagram's existing "Close Friends" feature, facilitating the sharing of stories with a specific group of individuals.
Why It Matters: Meta has faced scrutiny over its privacy policies, particularly concerns about its platforms being exploited by potential threats targeting teenagers. In response to these concerns, the company introduced a series of updates to address safety issues. The introduction of the "Flipside" feature on Instagram aligns with Meta's commitment to enhancing user privacy and safety.
The "Flipside" feature offers Instagram users the option of maintaining a public and a private side to their experience, eliminating the need for a separate private account. This approach may also serve to bypass certain parental controls within the app.
Given the ongoing discussions in Capitol Hill regarding Instagram's impact on teenagers, the "Flipside" feature could contribute to addressing these concerns. Additionally, it positions Instagram to compete with rivals like BeReal, which has incorporated private group functionalities.
