Instagram to Take on Pinterest with Public “Collections” Feature

• Instagram is internally working on a new feature that could make user-created collections public.
• The social media platform declined to confirm the feature as it is not available for public testing just yet.
• The feature was discovered by analyst and reverse engineer Jane Manchun Wong.

Hidden code in Instagram’s Android app suggests that the social media platform is working on a Pinterest-like Collections feature. Users can contribute to the “Collections” publicly unlike the private version of the feature that was launched a couple of years ago. Instagram users will be able to save and organize feed posts.

Once the update goes live, users will see a new “Make Collection Public” option. The upcoming feature was discovered by Jane Manchun Wong who also discovered a Fundraisers feature on Instagram. The collections update is not available to users just yet. There is also no indication that users will be able to follow other users’ collections.

Image Courtesy of TechCrunch

Instagram declined to confirm the feature when contacted by TechCrunch. The social media platform responded that the feature is currently not being tested which is a standard response. The public collections feature is in internal development, and it can take up to several months until it is available for public testing.

The introduction of a public collections feature could see Instagram go head-to-head with Pinterest and similar services. The social media platform copied Snapchat’s Stories feature, and it became an instant success, and a public “Collections” should be no different. It will allow users to curate their own content better and also collaborate with other users on the platform.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg recently stated that Instagram’s commerce strategy is important to the social media platform’s roadmap. The photo and video sharing app has implemented a number of features over the recent months including a Shopping Feed. A dedicated shopping app may also be in the works that could allow users to purchase products via the platform directly.

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