Instagram introduces a new feature aimed at helping students connect with people on campus, the company announced on Tuesday. The launch comes a week after completing an almost identical feature.
The new option allows students to the US to add their college or university to their profile banner and browse a list of students in their school.
Students will see a “Add School” option in their profile, which can click to complete a verification process through the student verification platform to display their school in their profile. Once the school banner is added, they can choose who is able to see it.
They will also be able to browse a list of other confirmed students. Instagram says the list of students is designed to facilitate finding classmates and connecting with others. Users may choose to browse the entire school or filter per year.
Both the new features of Instagram and Tiktok focusing on the college are reminiscent of the early days of Facebook. The idea behind the launches of the two platforms is to create a space to connect with other students on campus, which is essentially what Facebook’s initial mission was when it started in 2004 as a way for Harvard students to connect to each other.
The launch of the feature is no surprise as Instagram was identified the development of last year.
While features may be welcome additions to students who want to find friends, they can also raise concerns about privacy, as they could possibly make it easier for people to watch others online. Fortunately, the new features are optional, so that those who prefer to maintain their online presence separately from their student life can simply choose not to add their school to their profile on each platform.
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It is also worth noting that some may not love the new Instagram feature as it still brings a layer to a already overpower application.
