14 DAY TRIAL // Instagram is making a big move from mobile to the web. Instagram has had some web presence so far, but it is now debuting full-blown profiles for all its users online.
All public photos will be listed along with profile info, you'll be able to comment and like photos, pretty much everything you can do in the app.
The only big difference is that you can't upload photos from the web. Instagram remains a mobile-centric company, though you can't discount the idea that Instagram will eventually enable web uploads.
"You’ve asked for Instagram on the web and we’ve listened. Over the next few days, we’ll be rolling out Instagram profiles on the web," Instagram wrote.
"Your web profile features a selection of your recently shared photographs just above your profile photo and bio, giving others a snapshot of the photos you share on Instagram," it added.
"In addition, you can follow users, comment & like photos and edit your profile easily and directly from the web. It’s a beautiful new way to share your Instagram photos!," it said.
All Instagram profiles will now live at a custom URL. For example, @nike can be found at instagram.com/nike, anyone else will be at instagram.com/[username].
Photo privacy
The profiles are rolling out this week, so if yours isn't live yet, wait a little more. All public photos, which are most Instagram photos, will be displayed on your profile.
If you feel that the web is more "public" than a mobile app with 100 million users, you can change the privacy settings on your photos, in the app.
On iOS, you can go to the settings page and set Photos Are Private to "ON." On Android, go to the settings page, the menu button in the upper right corner, tap on "Photo privacy" and check "Photos are private."
This way, all of your photos will only be viewable by your followers. You have to approve new followers before they can see your photos.
Private photos will only be visible to the logged-in users that already follow you, no privacy setting is changing. Your profile will always be visible, but your private photos won't be seen by anyone you don't want to.
