Instagram is going to introduce live video

Instagram CEO Kevin Systrom has confirmed the photo sharing service will introduce a live video in the future. He hasn’t confirmed when the feature will go live, but the feature has already leaked in Russia, where a user found out about the feature while testing a beta version of the Instagram app. 

• Here’s how Facebook just made ‘Live’ video exactly like Periscope, Snapchat
• Instagram just basically ripped off Snapchat Stories – and here’s how

Live videos will appear in the same banner as Instragram Stories at the top of your feed, but will be circled in red and have ‘LIVE’ written across them to help distinguish them from Stories. To start a live video you’ll have to go to the same video screen to record a story, but press a red ‘Go Insta!’ button instead. 

Systrom said in an interview with the Financial Times: “Live is really exciting for us. I think it can enhance what we’re doing,”

“If I’m trying to strengthen relationships with someone I love, them streaming video to me live would be an amazing way to be closer to them”.

Facebook, which owns Instagram, has had a live video feature for some time and it’s proven to be popular, so it’s hardly surprising to see Instagram do the same. Instagram introduced Stories in August 2016 as a direct rival to Snapchat, letting you share photos and videos into one continuous feed. Stories published last 24 hours and can be viewed several times, in a similar way to Snapchat Stories.