Instagram, owned by Meta, is once again making waves in the world of social media by developing a new feature called “Peek.” This feature draws inspiration from both BeReal and Snapchat, two popular platforms that have revolutionized content sharing.
BeReal, known for promoting authentic and unedited content, has been a trendsetter in the industry. Meanwhile, Snapchat introduced the concept of ephemeral content, where posts can only be viewed once before disappearing. Instagram’s Peek combines these ideas, allowing users to share authentic photos that can only be viewed once.
While Stories on Instagram already offer a temporary viewing option for 24 hours, Peek takes it a step further by making the content truly ephemeral. According to a screenshot shared by reverse engineer Alessandro Paluzzi, a photo shared via Peek must be taken in the moment using the camera, and users cannot upload images from their gallery. Additionally, users cannot edit the photo or apply filters, similar to BeReal’s emphasis on unedited content.
Peek shares similarities with Instagram’s previous feature, Candid Stories, which was tested in 2022 as a competitor to BeReal. Although Candid Stories never rolled out to all users, it aimed to encourage users to capture and share what they were doing in the moment without any edits or filters. Peek offers similar functionality but with more flexibility, allowing users to share authentic moments on their own terms rather than following a specific daily schedule.
The introduction of Peek could be particularly appealing to users who are interested in sharing authentic content but prefer not to do so based on a fixed timer. By providing more freedom and control, Instagram hopes to entice users to share a wider range of content on the platform. This move is especially significant considering recent reports suggesting that BeReal is losing popularity, although the company denies these claims.
According to the screenshot shared by Paluzzi, Instagram envisions Peek as a means to “share little moments with the people you love.” This messaging indicates that Instagram is positioning Peek as a way to foster deeper connections through spontaneous and authentic photo-sharing. While the exact release date or potential changes to the feature remain unknown, Instagram’s intention to compete with BeReal is apparent.
As with any internal prototype, there’s no guarantee that Instagram will ultimately release Peek to the public. If the feature does make its way to users, it may undergo further development and potentially be renamed to better align with Instagram’s branding and user experience. Nonetheless, this development showcases Instagram’s determination to stay ahead of the competition by incorporating successful features from other platforms while putting its own spin on them.