The link in bio dance is gone. Photo by Florence Ion/GizmodoInstagram has finally tested the ability to link to external content via Stories for those without millions of followers. This linking feature is slightly different to the swipe-up method you see on your favorite influencer's stories. It's a sticker that your friends can tap to open the link in their mobile browser.AdvertisementThe Verge spoke to Vishal Shah, Instagram's head of product. He said that the company is currently in testing phases to see how users use the links within the app. They will be looking at the type of links people post most and whether they are being used to spread misinformation. This feature will likely be limited to S tories.Shah stated that this is the kind of future system that Shah would like to see. That's what we plan to do, if it is possible.Instagram has been using the carrot/stick method with its users for years. You risk being ignored if you don't post as often as the algorithm requires. Do a Google search for Instagram algorithm and see many bloggers trying to figure it out. If you play the game, you will be rewarded with the opportunity to attract many followers. Once you reach 10,000 followers, Instagram allows you to post links to external sites. Users who are verified have access to all links, regardless of their follower count.Here's how Instagram links can be used as stickers Image by InstagramThis limitation is not something I like. External linking is an easy feature that will benefit everyone, regardless of how large their following. This limitation is particularly detrimental to educators and activists who have helped create call-to-action posts in the past few years.This would also help small fry like me. It has been many times that I wish I could have shared my work to friends, colleagues, or followers without having to tell them to navigate to my bio or copy and past a complex URL into their mobile browser. My family loves me deeply, but they don't have the time or resources to read my articles.AdvertisementInstagram could allow all its users to link externally, which would give it some advantage over TikTok. TikTok is the place where one of the most recent hashtags was created to be used on Instagram Reels. Jumps were introduced by TikTok last week. They allow you to integrate apps into your videos, such as recipe sheets in Whisk or a link on an external Wikipedia page. It doesn't allow for direct linking beyond the links on profiles pages.Instagram's goal of becoming a home-shopping network would be helped by linking. Because they can post directly to their Etsy shops without using Instagram's shopping stickers, small sellers will be more likely to choose it for their business.AdvertisementLinks as stickers are currently not available to the public. The feature is currently being evaluated by a small group of users. We will continue to watch the link in bio dance for the rest of us.
