Instagram update: New feature allows users to edit friends' photos

New Instagram feature allows users to edit friends' photos. Instagram blog

The latest Instagram update now allows users to doodle on and vandalize their friends' photos.

The new feature called "remixing" lets friends play around with each other's photos through direct messaging.

It might not be safe to make this feature available for just about any photo seen in users' feedback, so it is only available in those sent via direct messaging. Basically, users will have their friend's permission to either decorate or vandalize the images.

Remixing is easy with a few clicks on the smartphone. When viewing a photo message from a friend, simply tap the camera icon at the bottom left of the screen and capture a reply. A pop-up menu of stickers should appear. Users are allowed to move it around, resize it, and even add their own twist with various texts and drawings.

The photos can also be a new form of conversation as users pass them around back and forth, each of them adding a new remix of it every time.

With this update comes the much-needed option to control replays of photos sent via DM. Senders can now choose whether the image can be seen just once with the "One View" option or more than once with the "Allow Replay." Note that photos allowed for replay are on automatic loop and viewers need to tap and hold it to pause.

Media outlets were quick to note that this latest update on the social media platform is more focused on promoting direct messaging across users. Before this, most expansions were directed at the Instagram Stories. These include the ability to add older pictures and videos to the Story, as well as follow hashtags and post Stories via the phone's web browser.

The remixing update is part of Instagram version 24 for both iOS and Android, and is now live for all users.