In today’s time, it doesn’t take long to create an Instagram clone app or website or any other application. Some time back, multiple accounts were created by the same people to create and share personal content with a group of people, who were more likely close.
This is similar to creating a group on WhatsApp with your close ones, except that this is an account. Content which may be blocked by others when shared openly can be shared here because, well, it is people you are close with, they get the inside jokes so why would one block them?
This was called “Finstagram” or fake Instagram. At some point in time, this was similar to a Visit leading top Instagram clone app of its own. To make things easier, so content could be shared among a close friend circle without others knowing who is or is not in the close friend’s circle, Instagram introduced the close people list feature on its app.
This means no more multiple accounts. If you were a part of someone’s close friend circle, and they share a story in the list then their story will have a green circle around their profile picture, unlike the regular rainbow.
While Instagram is known as the “Queen” of social media applications, people never stop trying to create “clones” of their own. Maybe by creating an entirely new application with similar features as to the original application (the OG) or by using Instagram to suit their needs like people did in the past by creating “Finstagram”.
What is an Instagram clone app?
An Instagram clone is where people (read entrepreneurs) try to create their own application which has very similar features like Instagram. In fact, there are actual platforms, software available online which provide the facility to create such applications.
Are there any unique features in an Instagram clone app?
Yes, there are some unique features in an Instagram clone app. But I can assure you, none of them are as amazing as the original application, after all the OG is known as the “Queen” for a reason. Some features are:
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Priced locked exclusive posts
The clone applications offer priced posts, meaning the creators can get the users to pay to view the posts, thus creating an income for the creators.
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Subscription models for creators
Creators need to pay a subscription fee to the application developers to be able to use the app, unlike Instagram which can be used for free
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Tips for creators from users
Users can give creators a tip if they like. Basically, the clone applications are suitable to generate an income from social media. But may not be beneficial in the long run.
But, suppose, sometime later, some person gets a very bright idea and wishes to create their own social media, maybe even better than Instagram.
So then, in that case, what are the features that social media should have? Any new social media platform must have the following features if they are trying to get better than Instagram.
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Easy and quick sign up.
Like today’s easy sign ups using Gmail software, Facebook, Apple email ids which redirect straight to the sign up page, the new ones should be able to do the same since this has become so very normal and expected.
It has become so normal that not having this would immediately make today’s generation not very inclined to use it. but since signing up is a one-time thing, it will probably be okay.
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Easy to manage profiles
The users need to be able to create their profiles and manage it. They also should be able to edit it as and when they wish to.
Often some applications do not allow the user to change their username once set. This can be very annoying and make the users not want to use your application, thus proving to be a downside.
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New feed
The explore page should be interactive. Instagram shows us the posts of not just those people who we follow but even those whom we don’t follow on the explore and reels page. This makes it even more interactive than other social media platforms.
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Stories feature
When Instagram and WhatsApp introduced the story feature which disappears within 24 hours, it became an instant hit for social media industry.
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Feature to go live (broadcast to all our followers)
Many users connect with their followers by going live. By going live with a few more people, they not only give live publicity to them but also get to share more works.
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Direct Messaging
Instagram direct messaging was a feature which was introduced much later but became very popular very soon. Unlike Facebook’s messenger application, Instagram direct messaging allows the users to interact on the application itself. We can chat on it like WhatsApp, share posts, reels, stories, GIFs and so much more.
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Voice call and video call
Along with the direct messaging feature, we users also got the feature to be able to call the person we are texting with. Initially it was only a voice call and to video call, we had to use other applications. But later, when the video call application was introduced, it made everything so much easier.
Key Features of Instagram which users will look for in any leading top Instagram clone app
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Home Screen
This is the screen where we see posts and stories from the people we follow. Recently Instagram has introduced a feature where even in the home page we can see posts from people whom we do not follow. They are similar to the posts that we like, save, share anything similar to, which the algorithm provides to our home page.
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Search bar
Any application in today’s time has to have the search bar. Users have become so used to it, if they do not find it, it will immediately put their mind off the application. Another important thing to remember is to place the search bar at a very convenient place which is easy to find and looks good too.
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Explore page
Each time we open Instagram, we find ourselves drawn to the explore page and the reels page. These are the pages where we see content from others apart from our following list. This is where we find ourselves falling into an endless loop of “one more post and then I will close the application”.
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Easily upload media
The user needs to be able to upload media directly from their camera or from their photo library after editing it. Even if the user is uploading any item from their camera after recording or shooting it right then they need to have the option to be able to edit it.
Bio Author
Hermit Chawla is a Marketing Manager at AIS Technolabs which is Web design and Development Company, helping global businesses to grow by top responsive web design services. He loves to share his thoughts on Social Media Marketing Services and Game Design Development etc.
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