Instagram is updating its Notes status tool by adding a new music-sharing feature. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced this update on his Instagram account’s Broadcast channel, accessible only on mobile devices.
Users will soon have the ability to share a 30-second clip of a song they like directly on their Notes for their friends to listen to. This feature is similar to how people used to share music on MySpace, although it’s unclear if the songs will automatically play or require tapping the message first.
Adding a song to a Note is easy: users simply need to tap the music note icon before writing their note, select a track, and publish it. They can also include a small caption along with the song if they wish.
Additionally, Instagram Notes will soon have a translation feature for non-English languages. Users will see a “See translation” notice below notes, and tapping it will instantly translate the text into a readable language.
These new features expand on existing tools within the platform but the exact launch date is not yet available. Since the launch of Notes in December, the platform has been experimenting with more socially-focused features hence the timing of these new tools is very interesting.
To be more specific, the company is developing a secret project – “a standalone decentralized social network for sharing text updates” not unlike Twitter.
Recently, a company-wide meeting at Meta HQ showcased mock-ups of a potential Twitter rival called Threads. This new platform aims to provide a more well-managed alternative, possibly addressing the current tumultuous era of Twitter under Elon Musk’s ownership.
These recent additions are likely part of Meta’s long-term plan to prepare Instagram and its users for an upcoming significant shift, although specific dates have not been disclosed during the initial reveal by Chris Cox, the chief product officer.