Instagram is exploring yet another feature that will provide users with a viable alternative to finstas. It’s called “flipside” and it allows folks to build an alternate photo grid that only certain pals may see. If this seems familiar, it’s probably because Instagram already makes it simple for users to produce posts meant for a smaller audience. In November, the app enabled users to share grid posts with “close friends”. More recently, it tried audience lists for Stories, allowing users to establish different lists for small-group collaboration. Of course, the program makes it rather simple to produce a proper finsta.
Flipside, somewhat perplexingly, provides still another method of achieving precisely the same thing. Users construct a different list of pals, apart from “close friends,” to add to their “flipside.” They may then select whether to publish to their regular grid or to their “flipside,” which is equally available through their profile but only visible to the buddies. According to screenshots published on Threads, if people notice a key indicator in someone’s grid, they will know they have access to their opposite.
Apparently, even Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri recognizes that this is all a bit repetitive. “On one hand it feels good to create a clear space that feels more private,” he stated via a post from Threads. “On the other, it’s yet another way to reach a smaller audience on top of secondary accounts and Close Friends.”
He also stated that “we’re not even sure we’ll launch it,” which may explain why the firm has been relatively quiet about the test. According to TechCrunch, Flipside was initially found in December but was still an internal prototype. However, it has already begun to surface for genuine users, with many complaints of it appearing on Threads in the last day.
While finstas have been mocked, Meta’s new concern with building “more private” Instagram locations is likely about more than just convenience. Mosseri has often remarked in recent years that Instagram users are not posting as frequently as they formerly did, particularly in their feeds. This is not ideal for an app that relies heavily on advertising, most of which appears in users’ feeds. So it’s hardly unexpected that Instagram is exploring new methods to encourage users to spend more time posting and perusing through their feeds.
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