Instagram has announced its plans to launch the Swipe-up link feature to all users through its initial beta-test program. The Swipe-up link feature for Instagram Stories is currently limited to verified users or an Instagram Business Profile with at least 10,000 followers.
As reported by The Verge, Instagram’s head of product Vishal Shah states that the beta-testing aims to supervise how users interact with the swipe-up link feature. The beta-test will look to ensure that the feature isn’t misused to spread harmful content such as misinformation and disinformation.
Moreover, Shah announced that Instagram is working on a new link stickers feature. The link stickers will allow users to access the URL link by simply tapping on the story and also enable replies to the link sticker story. The feature, if released, could potentially lead to brands and content creators adopting a new and innovative style of content.
Shah reveals that Instagram hopes to make the feature available for all users if the tests are successful:
“[Test] brings links into the same kind of overall system, which from a simplicity of system perspective, also makes a lot of sense. That is the sort of future system we would like to get to and that’s what we hope to roll out, if we’re able to make this work.”