Instagram just added a new feature called Stories, and it’s rivalling Snapchat in a pretty big way. Stories allows you to create instant moments, throughout the day, and show them to your followers for 24 hours before disappearing. Yes, a little like Snapchat.

The photos and video you chose for your story will become a series that people can swipe through for 24 hours. A colourful Instagram-styled circle will appear around your profile photo to let your followers know you have a story to view.

All they need to do is tap on your face to see your story. The update also means that if you click onto someone’s Instagram profile you can see if they’ve added anything to their story.

2insta2 Stories are temporary videos or photos that are strung together to form a gallery, and here’s how to create one:

  1. Tap on the plus button found on the top left-hand side of your homescreen or swipe left in your Feed.
    You can also quickly launch Stories by swiping right from the main screen.
  2. Tap the circle button at the bottom of the screen to take photos or tap and hold to record a video.
  3. Edit the photos or videos with text or add a drawing as you normally would. If you hit the pen icon, there are three types of pens.
  4. The third one makes your sketch look like a neon sign.
  5. Tap Done to save your story.
  6. Tap the checkmark button to share to your story.

If you sometimes regret something you’ve added to your story you can remove it too. Tap on the three dots at the bottom right of the photo or video you’d like to delete, hit Delete then confirm.

Unlike Snapchat, you can upload photos, Boomerangs and Hyperlapses, too. Any photo you shot (or Boomerang you made) in the last 24 hours can be uploaded to your story. To upload, swipe down on the screen and choose your videos or photos.

https://vimeo.com/177180549

And yes, there are filters! Not puppy faces or robots, but after shooting a photo or video, swipe across it add a colour filter. There are seven filters right now including a rainbow style shade. But we’re expecting Instagram to add more shortly, and it’ll be interesting to see how brands can utilise these.

Instagram Stories currently seems like a version 1 of Snapchat, but with a far simpler interface and flow. Yes, it doesn’t have stickers, geofilters and lenses but Instagram is focuses on memories, and a quality user flow.

Whilst Snapchat still confuses many, it’s easy to see the appeal of Instagram Stories. Click the button, take a photo, upload. Done.

Instagram Stories will be rolling out globally over the next few weeks on iOS and Android.