Instagram Introduces Public Comments on Stories to Boost User Engagement

Instagram is taking another step to enhance user interaction by introducing public comments on Stories. This new feature allows viewers of a Story to leave comments that are visible to anyone else who watches the same content, encouraging more open dialogue and engagement within the app.

As highlighted by Taylor Loren, some Instagram users have begun receiving notifications about this update. The notification reads: “You can now comment on Stories. Comments are visible to anyone who views the story.” These comments appear at the bottom of the Story frame, just above the function controls and viewer details, ensuring they are noticeable without being intrusive.

This feature is designed to spark conversations directly within Stories, offering a new way for users to interact with content beyond private messages. With comments displayed prominently, it provides a fresh opportunity for users to engage with each other, making Stories a more interactive part of the Instagram experience.

Instagram has been actively seeking ways to encourage more engagement on the platform as user behavior shifts towards private DMs for discussions and content sharing. According to Instagram head Adam Mosseri, there’s been a noticeable increase in the use of Stories and DMs compared to the main feed. This shift has led Instagram to explore new features like Notes, which allow users to post conversation prompts at the top of their inbox tab. Notes have proven to be particularly popular among teenagers, a key demographic for Instagram, with teens creating notes at ten times the rate of older users.

Following the success of Notes, Instagram has expanded the feature to profiles, Reels, and feed posts, adding various enhancements to keep users engaged. The introduction of public comments on Stories appears to be a natural extension of these efforts, offering another layer of interaction for users.

For creators concerned about maintaining the integrity of their content, Instagram offers the option to disable comments on Stories. This allows users to control the level of interaction on their posts while still benefiting from the potential for increased reach and engagement that comments can bring.

Overall, this update underscores Instagram’s commitment to fostering deeper connections within its community. By making it easier for users to engage in public discussions around Story content, Instagram aims to strengthen the ties that keep its users coming back to the platform.

This latest feature is set to roll out gradually, and it’s likely to inspire more activity and engagement within the app as it becomes more widely available.