Instagram Tests New Story Highlights Feature

Instagram's New Feature: Catching Up with Missed Content

Instagram is currently evaluating a new method for users to view content from their connections that they may have overlooked. The platform has begun showcasing unviewed Story Highlights from mutual followers at the conclusion of the Stories feed.

How the Feature Works

This new placement, at the end of the Stories tray – the section at the top of your Instagram feed – aims to surface content you haven't yet seen. A Meta representative confirmed to TechCrunch that they are testing this feature with a limited audience.

The initial discovery of this test was made by social media analyst Ahmed Ghanem.

Addressing Content Overload

With the increasing volume of content on Instagram, including Reels and sponsored advertisements, it's becoming easier to miss updates from the accounts you actively follow. This latest test is an attempt to combat this issue.

The goal is to ensure users don’t miss out on original content shared by their friends and family.

Details of the Implementation

Users will have access to Story Highlights that haven't been viewed within the last week.

These unseen Story Highlights will only appear after you’ve scrolled through all the currently available Stories in your tray. Therefore, if you follow a large number of accounts and don’t consistently reach the end of your Stories feed, you may not encounter this feature.

Highlights vs. Stories

It’s important to understand that this feature specifically focuses on Story Highlights – the curated collections of Stories saved to user profiles. It will not display standard Stories, which are only available for 24 hours.

Here's a quick breakdown: