Instagram has rolled out a new feature allowing users to showcase their musical preferences via Notes, the temporary status updates that show up above direct message inboxes. Starting today, you can display the Spotify tracks you’re currently streaming in real-time.
Unlike previous music sharing options, this enhancement continuously updates to reflect the currently playing song, providing both the title and artist. This builds upon Instagram’s collaboration with Spotify, which kicked off last November with the introduction of an “add to Spotify” button.
Increased control, reduced social pressure
The announcement today (from The Verge) is part of Instagram’s “Anyway” campaign, which aims to enhance creativity while alleviating user pressure, as stated by Instagram head Adam Mosseri.
Among the new features is a highly anticipated one: the ability to rearrange your profile grid. Users will have the option to manually order the posts on their Instagram profile, allowing them to curate the display of their content regardless of the original posting dates.
Mosseri hinted at this feature back in January, and while it’s still not available, Instagram has confirmed that it’s drawing closer to a launch.
Dedicated iPad app in development
This announcement follows a recent report from The Information, indicating that Instagram is finally creating a dedicated iPad app, a feature users have been requesting for over ten years. Previously, iPad users had to use the resized iPhone version, which provided a limited experience.
Instagram’s management had claimed for a long time that the iPad user base wasn’t sizable enough to warrant the development effort, but that stance now appears to be changing. With Meta aiming to broaden Instagram’s reach, especially as TikTok faces increased regulatory challenges, the company seems ready to fulfill some of its most requested enhancements.
