Instagram on Android gets offline mode

Instagram Fundraiser

Instagram has announced that android users can now be able to use the photo-sharing app offline.

Much of this functionality is now available on Android, which is the preferred device type in the developing world. More will come in the following months, and Instagram tells me its exploring an iOS version.

Instagram engineer Hendri says offline users will be able to see content previously loaded in Instagram’s feed. People can leave comments, Like things, save media, or unfollow people — all of which will go through when they reconnect. Profiles they’ve visited before will be visible, as will old versions of the Explore tab or their own profile.

Offline users will also be able to see profiles they already have as well as old versions of the Explore tab or their own profile.

Instagram’s decision to launch the offline feature first on Android makes sense given the fact that it is the preferred device type in the developing world. Further, the company needed to find a way to provide a better experience for users in the developing nations where data plans are not only expensive but also data connectivity in these country are at best sketchy.

While Snapchat seems to have forgotten about the developing world, Instagram knows everyone everywhere wants visual communication.

Related posts

Leave a Comment