Instagram brings in 4 new features for its 10th birthday: Checked them out yet?

Marking its 10th birthday, Instagram has announced a bunch of new features. We have already told you about how you can change your Instagram icon to a different one. This is part of Instagram’s birthday celebrations. You can pick from any of Instagram’s older icons or one of the new ones.

To change your Instagram icon, you need to make sure your app is updated. Next, go to settings and pull the page down. You’ll see a burst of confetti followed by the whole list of icons you can pick from. Make your choice and you will see it replace the icon you currently have on your phone screen.

Besides, this, there are other new additions to the platform including a Stories Map and updates focussed on social media well-being - the ability to hide potentially offensive comments and expanding on nudge warnings.

Also Read: Instagram turns 10: Looking back at the app's eventful decade

The Stories Map is a private map and calendar of the stories you have shared over the last three years. To get this, you need to go to your profile, and click to add a story. You will get a calendar that goes back three years covering all the stories you have shared. Once you select the ones you want, they get pinned onto a map that you can share, download and save as a highlight.

The ability to hide potentially offensive comments is a feature Instagram is currently testing and it automatically hides comments similar to others that have been reported. You can tap on “View Hidden Comments” to see the comments. Instagram adds though that comments that violate their Community Guidelines will continue to be removed.

The fourth feature is expanding on nudge warnings. From now on, Instagram is going to show additional warning when people repeatedly attempt to post comments that might be offensive. These new warnings let people take a moment to step back and reflect on their words and will lay out the potential consequences should they proceed.

Adam Mosseri, Head of Instagram, wrote on the company blog, “Right now, we’re witnessing enormous shifts in how people create and enjoy culture. To keep pace with what’s next, we have to adapt, too. Over the coming months, you’ll see some major changes from us, like tabs for Reels and shopping, and some big improvements to messaging."

“We’ll look to accelerate ways for creators to make a living and for small businesses to sell their products. Through all these changes, our community will remain the heart of Instagram, and we’ll stay focused on keeping people safe and building new features that fight bullying, improve equity, address fairness, and help people feel supported," he added.