Instagram users celebrate a new feature they've long been asking for.
Instagram has had its fair share of backlash recently. The platform's recent update left many users furious, with some warning others not to install it.
That update completely reorganised the app's menu bar - the navigation system users rely on to move between different sections. The changes disrupted years of muscle memory and sparked widespread complaints across social media.
Now it seems Instagram may have just redeemed itself by adding a feature that rival video platforms have offered for ages.
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If you've ever lost track of a reel you wanted to show someone or forgot to save for later, you'll know the frustration of the app not having a 'Watch History.'
Instagram's competitor TikTok has long offered a watch history feature. You can access it by tapping the three lines in the top right corner, going to 'activity centre,' and selecting 'watch history.'
Similarly, YouTube allows users to look back at old Shorts, though those are mixed in with longer videos in the general watch history. To find it on YouTube, simply go to your profile and click 'history.'
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Now, Instagram is finally letting users go back and rewatch old reels without having to save them first.
Adam Mosseri, the head of Instagram, announced the new feature on Friday (24 October) through a reel explaining how to find clips you can't quite remember.
“If you go to ‘profile’ and under settings, under ‘your activity’ there’s ‘watch history’ now,” Mosseri explained. “So you can see every reel that you’ve ever watched.”
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Mosseri also detailed how users can customise this new section to make finding content easier.
“You can sort it from oldest to newest or newest to oldest. You can go to a specific date or date range, and you can even filter it down to a specific person or account that posted that reel.”
That said, it's not 'every reel ever watched,' the feature actually only covers the last 30 days, but this is still a great addition to the app.
Numerous Instagram users celebrated the announcement and thanked the platform for its upgrade.
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“THIS is helpful!!," one exclaimed.
“YESSSSS!!!!!!!! Love this so much!” another wrote.
A third user commented: “Love it! I'm not saving to collections anymore".
A fourth user chimed in: "Amazing, I'm forever looking for past reels I've seen!"
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Instagram initially rolled out the watch history feature to a select group of users a couple of months ago. After testing, the tech giant apparently decided the change was worth keeping and has now made it available more widely.