Instagram is introducing new features aimed at helping college students connect with people on campus, the company announced Tuesday. The launch will take place a week after Tiktok unveiled almost the same features.
The new option allows US students to add universities and universities to their profile banners and view a list of students at the school.
Students will display the “Add School” option in their profile. Click this to complete the verification process via the Student Verification Platform Uniday and display the school in your profile. Once the school banner is added, you can choose who can see it.
You can also view a list of other confirmed students. According to Instagram, the Student Directory is designed to make it easier to find classmates and connect with others. Users can choose to view the entire school or filters annually.
Instagram and Tiktok’s new university-focused feature is reminiscent of the early days of Facebook. The idea behind the launch of both platforms is to create spaces to connect with other students on campus. This was Facebook’s original mission when it was launched in 2004 as a way for Harvard students to connect with each other.
The launch of the feature is no surprise as it was discovered that Instagram was developing last year.
This feature may be welcome for college students trying to find friends, but it can also raise privacy concerns as it can make it easier for people to track others online. Fortunately, the new feature is optional, so those who prefer to maintain an online presence apart from student life can choose not to add schools to their profiles on either platform.
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It is also worth noting that some people may not like the new Instagram feature. Because it brings yet another layer to an already overcrowded app.
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