stockcam/iStock(NEW YORK) — Instagram is ramping up its efforts to keep people connected during the coronavirus pandemic.
Head of Instagram Adam Mosserti announced new in-app tools to promote social distancing exclusively on Good Morning America Tuesday.
“We want to encourage people to social distance,”Mosserti said. “So we’re launching a new feature around co-watching. You can now watch your favorite Instagram content with someone while you video chat.”
.@GMA EXCLUSIVE: Head of Instagram Adam @mosseri discusses the social media platform’s “Stay at Home” movement and other new features on the app that help people feel connected and safe. https://t.co/0hUYOkGbiX pic.twitter.com/afkJMte7CW
— Good Morning America (@GMA) March 24, 2020
The co-watching tool lets users browse posts with friends over an in-app video chat that can be accessed through the direct messaging window. The social media platform will additionally ramp up the amount of medical educational resources available through “Stay Home” stickers and expand the removal of COVID-19 content not posted by credible health organizations.
The new features are part of the broader push by the company urging users to stay home.
To give people more ways to give back at this time, we added a new COVID-19 section to our Donation sticker so people can quickly identify relevant nonprofits. We are also making the sticker available in other countries. pic.twitter.com/gtUg5wLQtq
— Instagram Comms (@InstagramComms) March 24, 2020
“We’re trying to keep people safe by encouraging them to stay home,” said Mosserti. “But now that we’re all isolated, we think Instagram is built to bring people together.”
Mosserti added the new sticker features will allow people to donate to relevant non-profits.
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