Instagram, one of the world's most popular and feature-rich social networks, is considered by some to be the most complete social network available, allowing users to upload photos, videos, stories, chat, and more, all without leaving the app. But... there are Instagram secrets you might not know, so we've compiled some tips to help you get the most out of it.
We are going to start with these tips for you to show your mastery in this social network, especially in the stories, which we know you like.
Create rainbow text in stories
Many people know this trick, but… And do you know it? Just in case we tell you.
Of course you can do it letter by letter, but it's a hassle, and you might not feel like doing that when you're just uploading a quick story, but... did you know there's a faster way?
It might be a little tricky the first time, but once you see how it's done, it's easy. You have to select all the text. With the text selected , hold down the color button to open the color spectrum, and once you have both options, change the color as you deselect the text. This way, the letters change color because you're always selecting a different portion.
You will see how you do not get the hang of it!
Upload longer videos to stories
You might think 15 seconds isn't enough time to say something. This limit can't be circumvented, but you can certainly play with the tools Instagram provides.
Previously, you had to use third-party apps to cut videos, but now , if you upload a video from your gallery to Instagram, it will automatically split it into 15-second segments. This is a very useful feature if you want to show something specific that lasts longer than the time limit or if you want to explain something.
Also, in case you didn't know, if you hold down the record button, it will record different stories, so you don't have to keep uploading and continuing; you can upload them all at once later and you're done.
See all the posts you've liked
Wow! The other day I found a hilarious video in the Explore section! But I can't remember the account and I can't show it to you… Does that sound familiar? It might have happened to you before, right? Well, it's as simple as going to the posts you liked and looking there.
To do this, simply go to settings and in the account section tap "Posts you've liked".
Of course, do not skimp on likes or you will not find that funny video again.
Longer duration of photos in stories
Since videos are limited to 15 seconds, the time for photos is even shorter , at just 10 seconds. If you want your photos to be 15 seconds long as well, one trick is to add a song to your story. For a few months now, the app has had a built-in song search function, which is added in the same way as locations, polls, etc.
To do this, we upload or take the photo, swipe up, and the options to add music will appear. We add music, search for the song we want, select the desired 15-second clip, and it's uploaded just like a video . And you can add music to your photo too —not a bad idea, right?
Continue without stopping?
You're not interested in anything your cousin posts on Instagram (for example), but of course, you don't want to unfollow him. Well, no problem. Mute his account. This expression, which sounds like something out of a mafia operation, actually means that his posts (or stories and posts) will stop appearing in your feed . So, no matter how many times you follow him, you won't see anything he posts.
Deactivate your online status
Instagram has long since ceased to be just a photo-sharing social network, and you can have long conversations through the platform. And perhaps you don't want the person you're talking to to see if you're online or not. Here's how to turn it off.
Go back to settings, and once there, in the Privacy and Security section , you'll find the Activity Status option . Go in and disable it. Keep in mind that, like other social networks, if you disable your activity status, you won't be able to see others' activity statuses.
Add a solid color for the background of your stories
Something I've always missed on Instagram is the ability to add a solid color background to your stories . But this trick changed that. It's as simple as taking a photo, going to the drawing tool, and selecting a color with the color picker or selecting it from the photo with the eyedropper tool. Then, press and hold on the image, and it will paint the entire background. The tool used should be the default one (the one furthest to the left). It's that easy.
Create translucent backgrounds for your stories
The process is the same as before, but using the highlighter tool (the second tool from the left). Applying this color will create a layer with 75% opacity, allowing our photo to show through.
Alternative versions for each sticker
Yes, it may sound like a truism for some story lovers, but it took me a long time to discover it, so I share it with all of you.
Each sticker (or almost all of them), and even the font you type with, can have more than one version. Just tap on it to see all the different versions.
Zoom in on a story
Situation similar to the previous one, it may sound very obvious to some, but I think it is interesting to share it.
If you're making a video on Instagram, you can zoom in by sliding your finger upwards while recording.
You can also do it with a boomerang to add a touch of intensity with a quick zoom in and zoom out.
Share your old stories
You might already know this, but Instagram saves your previously uploaded stories. To view them, simply go to your profile, click the inverted clock at the top , and you'll have access to your old stories. There, you can reshare them if you wish, and they'll include a pre-set caption with memories from the date and time.
Reduce the amount of data Instagram consumes
Instagram uses a lot of resources, that's nothing new, but we can reduce the amount of data it consumes with an option within the app itself.
To do this, we'll need to go to settings, then to mobile data usage , and activate the option to use less data . I've been using this option for a long time and I don't notice any difference.
Filters, filters and more filters
When you go to post a photo, a series of filters appear for you to choose from, but it turns out there are more. Instagram offers up to 40 filters, a considerable number indeed.
We just need to go to the last filter we have and next to it there is the Manage button , and the entire list of available filters will appear, and we can choose which ones we want to keep in our main filters and which ones we don't.
And well, these would be our tips to help you get the most out of Instagram.
Did you know them? Which ones did you know and which ones didn't? Instagram is, without a doubt, an app with many options!
