After TikTok-inspired Reels, Instagram’s next big feature may be a copy of another up-and-coming social media app. The Meta-owned platform is developing a feature called Candid Challenges that encourages people to share photos of their true selves with no filters or effects. This concept was debuted by the French social media app BeReal launched in 2020.
Renowned app researcher Alessandro Paluzzi spotted the in-development Instagram feature earlier this week. “Add other’s IG Candid to your story tray. And every day at a different time, get a notification to capture and share a Photo in 2 Minutes,” the company describes Candid Challenges. It lets users challenge their friends to post Candid photos within a two-minute window.
Candid Challenges will randomly notify you to post a photo once a day, so you can’t be prepared for it beforehand. If you accept the challenge, Instagram will open the camera app to capture the photo. You don’t get access to any camera filters or effects. You must share a photo of your true self. The only other button that you get apart from the shutter button is the ability to turn on the Dual Camera. The photo you share will appear in the Stories tray on Instagram.
Instagram Candid Challenges is a copy of BeReal
The whole idea of Instagram Candid Challenges is a copy of BeReal. The latter also gives users two minutes to post a candid selfie at a random time. “A new and unique way to discover who your friends really are in their daily life,” the app describes itself. This concept has proved to be a hit among Gen Z.
Launched in 2020, BeReal started picking up popularity earlier this year. It has consistently featured in the top ten most popular free apps in recent months, often above Instagram and Facebook. As of July this year, the app had garnered over 20 million installs globally. No wonder the likes of Instagram are already copying it. The Meta-owned photo and video sharing platform also recently copied BeReal’s Dual Camera feature.
After Paluzzi’s discovery, an Instagram spokesperson confirmed to Engadget that Candid Challenges is in development. The company described it as an “internal prototype,” suggesting that the work began quite recently. It is not yet testing Candid Challenges externally. But all signs point to Instagram seriously considering adding this BeReal clone to its app. We will let you know when we have more information about this feature.
#Instagram is working on IG Candid Challenges, a feature inspired by @BeReal_App 👀
ℹ️ Add other’s IG Candid to your story tray. And everyday at a different time, get a notification to capture and share a Photo in 2 Minutes. pic.twitter.com/caTCgUPtEV
— Alessandro Paluzzi (@alex193a) August 22, 2022
2022-08-24 15:05:47