New York - Instagram on Thursday unveiled Instagram Direct, allowing its more than 150 million members to send private photo and video messages to friends and loved ones ahead of the holiday season.
“What would we build if we want to allow you to send to anyone you want whatever you want?” Instagram founder Kevin Systrom told a news conference in New York.
“So today I would like to introduce Instagram direct, a simple way to send photos and videos to your friends and family.”
It is a new venture for the service that built its reputation as a public social network.
“Instagram is about capturing and sharing the world's moments,” the smartphone photo-sharing service announced.
“However, sometimes there are moments that are meant for one person, or a few close friends: an inside joke among friends, or a picture sent to someone you love just to say hello.”
The new service, which is available to download immediately in Apple's App Store, and on Google Play.
The feature allows people to send a photo or video to up to 15 people of your friends and loved ones, and have a conversation.
Last month Instagram began displaying ads, as Facebook moved to start making money from the service it bought in a billion-dollar deal last year.
But Systrom said there were currently no plans to introduce advertisements to Instagram Direct. - Sapa-AFP