Intending to provide monetary incentives to influencers on the platform, Meta-owned Instagram is currently testing a feature called ‘Gifts’. This feature will allow creators to earn money through Reels. Now, this is something very different and beneficial for the creators.
The feature is currently being tested internally within the company as a prototype
When asked about the feature, a Meta spokesperson said, “this feature is an internal prototype and not testing externally.” The feature was first spotted by app researcher Alessandro Paluzzi back in July. It was when Instagram developed the element under the name “content appreciation.”
In a snapshot shared by Paluzzi, a toggle option is seen at the bottom of Reels. It would let fans ‘send a gift’ like stars, charms, or mega-like, to the creator for every Reel. Content creators can also check if they are eligible for Instagram Gifts under the Gifts tab in their settings.
More such features
It is not the first time that Instagram has come up with an idea for content creators and tipped them for their creativity. In 2020, Instagram launched the concept of Badges. Through this users can show their support in live videos hosted by content creators. (https://bluejapan.org) When a creator earns a Badge during a live stream, a heart icon appears next to the individual’s name in the comments. With the possible addition of Gifts, Instagram would give creators a way to make money through both live streams and Reels.
If Instagram does go the route of adding money-making avenues with the app features, it wouldn’t be the first time that a social media company has tried to emulate the same.
TikTok, which is Instagram’s biggest competitor, introduced direct tipping for creators last December. In addition, Twitter launched a Tip Jar feature in May 2021 that is designed to give users a way to quickly tip creators with a few taps. Even Tumblr has a Tip Jar feature that it launched earlier this year.