Instagram is Testing a New Video Call Feature, Another SnapChat Cloning?

Instagram is reportedly testing a new feature that enables video calls. This feature was first spotted by WABetaInfo, a Whatsapp fan blog. The feature would allow users make video calls directly from Instagram’s Direct Messages section.

WABetaInfo sources claim the feature is still in beta and shared a screenshot to prove its existence. The screenshot shows a new video icon at the top right corner of the screen in the app’s Direct Message.

The icon and its placement look eerily similar to the one on Whatsapp. It would enable one-tap access to make video calls right from the active chat window. The new video calling feature would be made available in the next few months, the source claims. But Instagram has officially refused to comment on the speculation.

This video chat feature, if true, would be the latest feature added to Instagram in recent weeks. In January it introduced a few new features. Such as Text only Stories and a new security feature for stories.

Instagram Trying To Snuff Out SnapChat

Although the video chat feature is cool, it already exists on SnapChat. Including it on Instagram only increases the number of SnapChat features Facebook apps have borrowed over the last couple of years.

After SnapChat rejected a $3 billion bid from Facebook in 2013, Zuckerberg went haywire. He constantly copied SnapChat features such as SnapChat Stories, and others onto his own platforms. In 2017, Instagram Moments had over 200 million users alone.

Since Snap is his true main competitor presently, Zuckerberg’s main aim obviously is to kill it. He has tried so far, but the company, battered financially with slow user growth and finances, has continued to stand relatively strong.