Instagram is enticing users to create a second account - typically referred to as a “finsta” - for keeping up with certain topics or staying in the loop with a small group of friends. The move is atypical for the social platform, which has historically encouraged users to grow their networks by suggesting accounts and topics to follow. Of course, Instagram understands some people want to limit the audience for their content, so for those users, Instagram offers private profiles and Close Friends - a feature that lets users share their Stories or Reels with select followers.
Still, finstas have long been a part of the Instagram world, allowing for a whole mix of uses. Finstas let users share fun content with just their friends, families can enjoy personal photos and videos, and business owners can keep their company account separate from their primary account. However, as with much of the social web, finstas can also be used for nefarious activities - something that lawmakers are all too aware of. In September this year, US Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn) questioned Antigone Davis, head of global safety at Meta (formerly Facebook), about whether the company would “commit to ending” finstas. Davis told Blumenthal that the company does not oversee finstas. That might have been true then, but it seems things have since changed.
Instagram users with a single account who tap on their profile image in the lower right corner of the app are now seeing a pop-up that encourages them to create a secondary account, as reported by The Wall Street Journal. The notification suggests users “try a new account,” stating it could be good for sharing with close friends or following particular interests.
Users Can Link A Finsta To Their Main Account
Those that follow the prompt are guided through the setup process, which includes uploading a new main image and choosing a fresh username. Once the account is in place, users can then choose to manage it from their main profile. For those that truly want to ensure their finsta is siloed away from their regular account, they can opt for a completely separate login, with full support for two-factor authentication.
It’s unclear when exactly Instagram began displaying the alert, but the fact that Instagram is now prompting users to create a finsta does seem to misalign with what Davis told Senator Blumenthal earlier this year. At the time, Davis suggested finstas were being used by teenagers to interact with “a smaller group of friends” - wording that is close to the pop-up. Of course, irrespective of when the notification rolled out, one thing is clear - finstas are certainly now an Instagram feature.
Source: WSJ