Dive Brief:
- Instagram has overhauled its search function to include locations and hashtags from the same search bar, while spotlighting trending places and hashtags.
- The photo sharing platform will also curate two rotating themed albums of images to encourage general-interest browsing.
- Trending information may make Instagram the go-to service for people seeking images from breaking news events.
Dive Insight:
New search functions unveiled this week from Instagram are designed to encourage users to visit more frequently, as well as check the image-sharing site during news events. Five years in the making, the features allow users to search by person, location, and hashtag from the same tab, and offers trending places and hashtags based on user location.
Trending information will encourage users to look to Instagram for visuals related to breaking news, similar to the way in which Twitter emerged as a platform for brief, on-the-spot news coverage. While platforms such as Snapchat sell against their curated feeds, Instagram currently has no plans to sell ads alongside trending and curated content.