Chat 2.0. And Longer Vids: Snapchat And Instagram's New Updates Will Make You Vom Rainbows

Snapchat v Instagram: Dawn Of Justice.

In what is either a response to yesterday’s Insta-panic, or just a coincidental new update that was long-scheduled, Instagram has today introduced 60-second videos to its photo-upload service.

Previously, Grammers could only post 15-second video clips. By contrast, these new 60-second videos will now probably feel like the Gone With The Wind of pithy social media vids. (We need a more current reference for long movies. Can we officially use Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice now?)

According to Instagram HQ, the longer videos begin rolling out today (but likely only to top influencers) and will become available for everyone in the coming months. All users will be available to make clips from multiple videos immediately, once you download the 7.19 Instagram update.

We’ll have to wait and see if these new, longer vids drag vloggers from YouTube, or if this new video-centric Instagram drives photo-sharers away.

Meanwhile, over at Snapchat, you can now update to Chat 2.0., which allows you to send messages (be it video, an audio clip, a picture or a sticker) to people even if they’re not online, allowing them to start talking or video chatting with you immediately upon login. (Okay, you’ll need to make “one tap” before anything happens, but that doesn’t seem unreasonable.)

So, basically, Snapchat works like a phone now. (Or, as CNN describes it, you can “conduct a video call that works like a private livestream.”)

They’ve also updated their Privacy Policy, which, historically, has been worth keeping up to date with. Read all about the updates here.

Photo: Buzzfeed / YouTube.