Instagram ‘trialling community chat feature’

Instagram is reportedly experimenting with a new “community chat” feature which would allow users to talk online together in a manner similar to group chat platform Discord.

Instagram is reportedly experimenting with a new “community chat” feature.

The social media platform is said to be trialling the new system which would allow users to talk online together in a manner similar to group chat platform Discord, according to software developer Alessandro Paluzzi who shared what appeared to be screenshots of the new feature in a post on Threads.

He wrote: “Instagram keeps working on Community Chats … Chats hold up to 250 people and admins can remove messages and members.”

The screen shot featured a blurb which explains the chats can be monitored by admins and will have to adhere to set guidelines.

The message explained: “Admins can remove messages and members to keep the channel safe … We also review Community Chat against our Community Standards.”

Paluzzi later added: “This feature has not been released yet.”

According to Engadget.com, a spokesperson for Instagram clarified that the tool is currently an “internal prototype” and it’s “not being tested outside the company”.

Instagram currently offers a broadcast channels feature which allow content creators to distribute posts and communicate with their followers, but engagement is limited because users can only react without sharing their own posts on the channel.

It comes amid reports Instagram is also planning to launch its Reels feature as a separate app.

The company’s boss Adam Mosseri is said to have told staff about the possible move, according to technology industry-focused publication The Information.

The short-form video feature app could be launched as a rival to TikTok, which faces an uncertain future in the United States. US president Donald Trump granted the Chinese-owned platform a 75-day extension last month to comply with a law signed by his White House predecessor Joe Biden that requires a sale or ban of the site.

The Reels app would be akin to a direct replica of TikTok and would open to a full-screen, scrolling display of short-form videos. Reels were recently extended to three minutes, meaning there could be enough content to justify a separate app.