Instagram celebrates Valentine's Day with a surprise series of hidden surprises.
Unfortunately, no candy is included.
Instagram has launched a series of updates to celebrate Valentine's Day, which takes place on February 14. These surprises include an exclusive sticker for stories on iOS, the ability to customize DMs with a special theme, and the option to assign nicknames to other users.
One of the most interesting aspects is the 'Notes' feature, which allows users to share thoughts or love messages. By using certain words like ‘pookie’ or ‘vday’, special visual effects are activated, such as Cupid arrows flying across the message or colorful bubbles filling the screen. These features have been coined “Secret Phrases in Notes.”
For those who prefer direct messaging, Instagram has introduced three new themes: candy hearts, love, and sweets. These can be used to add a special touch to conversations. Additionally, it is now possible to assign nicknames to other users, such as ‘best friend’, and new reactions have been added to interact with messages without the need for a simple double tap.
Another highlight is the updates for stories, where new types of fonts and effects related to Valentine's Day can be found. The most prominent is a themed vinyl sticker that says “My V-Day Jams,” which, when scratched, reveals hearts, adding a fun and romantic element.
These features will be available globally and can be used until February 15, 2025. However, reactions in DMs and nicknames are intended to be permanent, at least for now.