Instagram announces new Search and Explore features in 7.0 update
posted Tuesday, June 23, 2015 at 12:46 PM EDT
Moments ago, Instagram announced it’s releasing Instagram 7.0, an update that will further help users connect with and explore the world around them. Both the Explore section and the Search section of Instagram’s apps have received a major overhaul the includes a new list of trending Tags and Places, and a more robust search that better finds the content you’re looking for.
In Instagram’s announcement blog post, they said they have ‘completely reimagined’ the Explore section of its app. Now, Explore displays trending locations or topics, a feature similar to what Facebook and Twitter both offer. This allows Instagram to display popular trends as they’re happening, whether it’s a holiday, favorite vacation spot or breaking news.
Also included in the Explore update is a list of curated collections they say will be ‘updated regularly.’ These collections will ‘[feature] interesting accounts and places, from musicians and extreme athletes to stunning architecture and gorgeous beaches.’
The new updates to Explore will be available only in the United States at first. Once Instagram is content with how the update is going, they will release it to the rest of the world. Not even a vague timeframe has been given though.
The new search function similarly improves upon the current iteration. Now, Instagram’s search function is far more intelligent, providing more contextualized searches.
A new ‘Places Search’ will let you take a peek inside almost any place on Earth you can imagine; just type in a location and you’ll be presented with a collection of geotagged images captured from around there.
Instagram version 7.0 is available for download or update in both Apple’s App Store and Android’s Google Play Store.