Instagram GIFs are back and the whole world is rejoicing

About time!!!!

instagram change
(Image credit: Rex)

About time!!!!

Forced changes to our daily Instagram activity never go down well, with most of the app’s updates being met by a negative reaction.

There was the time Instagram controversially switched its logo, the algorithm change that affected who saw our posts and don’t even get us started on the threat that our profiles were being changed to a 4×4 photo grid.

The most recent update therefore has been a nice change, met by an overwhelmingly positive reception.

We are of course talking about the return of the Instagram GIF feature - and it’s about time.

The photo sharing platform removed the popular GIF feature last month, which had previously allowed users to add funny moving graphics to their Instagram stories.

But why on earth was the Instagram GIF feature deleted? Well, that’s even more controversial.

Both Instagram and Snapchat removed their Giphy GIF feature after an offensive sticker involving a racist slur appeared in the ‘recommended’ section.

Giphy apologised and explained that the sticker was down to a bug in its content moderation filters, but both sites temporarily removed Giphy from their platforms.

As of this week however, GIFs are back and we couldn’t be happier.

This time, no offensive recommendations though, please.

Jenny Proudfoot
Features Editor

Jenny Proudfoot is an award-winning journalist, specialising in lifestyle, culture, entertainment, international development and politics. She has worked at Marie Claire UK for seven years, rising from intern to Features Editor and is now the most published Marie Claire writer of all time. She was made a 30 under 30 award-winner last year and named a rising star in journalism by the Professional Publishers Association.