Sounds familiar? It is a secondary photo grid that only approved friends can view.
An additional feature that is intended to provide users with an alternative to finstas is currently being tested by Instagram. It is referred to as “flipside,” and it enables users to build an alternative photo grid that is only visible to those who have been specifically designated.
If this seems a little bit similar to you, it is probably because Instagram already makes it relatively simple for users to publish posts that are aimed at a more specific demographic. Back in November, the app introduced the capability for users to share grid postings with “close friends.” Stories for close friends have been there since 2018, so this feature was actually introduced in November. More recently, it conducted tests on audience lists for Stories, which let users to establish several lists for the purpose of sharing with smaller groups. The application, of course, also makes it quite simple to design a real finsta and use it.
Despite the fact that it is rather complex, Flipside provides yet another method of accomplishing essentially the same thing. For the purpose of adding people to their “flipside,” users construct a separate list of friends that is distinct from their “close friends.” After that, they have the option of posting to their regular grid or to their “flipside,” which is similarly available from their profile but is only viewable to the friends list that was previously indicated. According to screenshots that were published on Threads, individuals will be able to determine whether or not they have access to the backside of another user if they notice a key icon in the grid of that user. (A video of it in action may be seen on Threads for your viewing pleasure.)
flipside di instagram 👀 pic.twitter.com/eJLEdBTJf9
— Febriando Sulgani (@FSulgani) January 25, 2024
It would appear that even the head of Instagram, Adam Mosseri, is aware that all of this is somewhat unnecessary. In a post that he made on Threads, he stated, “On the one hand, it feels good to create a clear space that feels more private.” On the other hand, it is still another method to communicate with a more limited audience in addition to secondary accounts and Close Friends and Friends.
He went on to say that “we’re not even sure we’ll launch it,” which may be the reason why the corporation has been relatively quiet about the test. According to TechCrunch, Flipside was initially discovered some time in December, although at that time it was still a prototype that was being developed internally. It has, however, begun to show for actual users, as evidenced by the fact that there have been multiple instances of it appearing on Threads over the course of the past day.
Initial responses appear to be mixed, with some people expressing excitement over the change and others questioning why on earth they would require yet another social media presence to keep up with daily activities. It is hardly surprising that some people appear to be perplexed.
Meta’s recent concern with establishing “more private” areas on Instagram is likely about more than merely adding convenience, despite the fact that finstas have been criticized (often in a hilarious way). Over the course of the past couple of years, Mosseri has observed this phenomenon on multiple occasions: Instagram users are simply not posting as frequently as they used to, particularly in their feeds. This is not ideal for an application that is dependent on advertising, the majority of which is displayed in the feeds of its users. Therefore, it should not come as much of a surprise that Instagram would be seeking for new ways to encourage users to spend more time perusing through their feeds and posting to their accounts.