Meta, the parent company of Instagram, is developing a new feature called “Peek” that blends concepts from BeReal and Snapchat, aiming to enhance the platform’s appeal by introducing more ephemeral and authentic content. This move is consistent with Meta’s strategy of adopting successful features from competing social media platforms.
What is Peek?
Peek is an Instagram feature designed for sharing authentic photos that can only be viewed once. Unlike Instagram Stories, which are viewable for 24 hours, Peek emphasizes spontaneity and immediacy. Users must take photos in the moment with their cameras, as uploads from the gallery are not allowed. Additionally, photos shared via Peek cannot be edited or filtered, ensuring the authenticity of the content, similar to BeReal’s approach.
How Peek Differs from Similar Features
Peek is reminiscent of Instagram’s Candid Stories, a feature tested in 2022 to compete directly with BeReal. Candid Stories encouraged users to share unedited photos at a specific time each day. In contrast, Peek allows users to share spontaneous, unedited photos at any time, offering greater flexibility and potentially increasing user engagement.
The Competitive Landscape
The development of Peek comes at a time when BeReal’s popularity is reportedly waning, although the company disputes this claim. By incorporating elements from both BeReal and Snapchat, Meta hopes to capture users interested in ephemeral and authentic content without the constraints of timed notifications.
Potential Impact and Rollout
Currently, Peek is in the internal prototype stage and is not being tested externally. Alessandro Paluzzi, a reverse engineer, first discovered the feature. Instagram has confirmed its existence but has not provided a timeline for a potential public release. If Instagram decides to roll out Peek, it might undergo changes in its final form or receive a different name.
Meta’s Strategy
Meta’s strategy of integrating popular features from other social media platforms is not new. This approach allows the company to stay competitive and continuously evolve its offerings to meet user demands. By adding Peek, Instagram aims to encourage users to share more types of content, thereby increasing engagement and retaining user interest.
In summary, Peek represents Instagram’s latest effort to incorporate trending social media concepts, enhancing its platform by allowing users to share unedited, in-the-moment photos that can only be viewed once. This move is expected to attract users who value authenticity and spontaneity in their social media interactions.
