Instagram is presently one of the most popular photo sharing platforms, with a database filled by millions of users and giant amounts of uploads and shares. Up until recently, consumers were unable to find what they were looking for in a search box, reason why Instagram rolls out web search tools in an initiative to make the platform even more user oriented.
Just like the in-app search, Instagram’s web based browsing lets you search for posts related tohashtags or location from specific accounts. Searching for hashtags from the search bar will also offer you a quick overview of how many times a certain hashtag has been used.
Links to hashtags and location geotags will have you redirected to a page which displays the top posts for those tags, based on the exact number of likes. This applies to posts that users see on the web.
The new feature strengthens competition with Twitter, as the company is making efforts to expand its offer of desktop products.
According to an Instagram spokesperson, “web search is part of a broader commitment to improving discovery across our platforms”. However, Instagram still has a lot of work to do in order to improve the functionality of its mobile app, although its web traffic is starting to become highly significant. Reports gathered last month revealed that web embeds of Instagram content have generated no less than 5.3 million impressions. This is a progress worth mentioning, considering that Instagram has been launched only two years ago, exclusiverly for mobile devices.
They are slowly learning about the importance of high functionality, adaptation and versatility and make it possible for users to search for locations, hashtags, user accounts and others, directly from a web browser. The new update is designed to enhance the web experience and better link it to the mobile browsing experience.
The workings are simple. By simply searching for a location, you will be offered images from that location and a map as well. If you search for a username, the results will display individual accounts. Ultimately, if you search for a particular hashtag, you will be offered a landing page which shows all images tagged with that respective label.
The company is thus making it easier for users to follow certain moments, conversations and trends in real time. Considering the low level of content diversity on Instagram, their aim could be to get closer to Twitter, speaking in competition terms.
Image Source: iamwire.com
