Instagram is rolling out two big new features today: the ability to broadcast live video and a change to direct messages that will allow users to send disappearing photos and videos privately among friends. The new features further puts the service in direct competition with Snapchat, while also going against Periscope and Facebook’s own live broadcasting functionality.
Unlike Facebook Live and Periscope, Instagram’s live video feature is completely ephemeral: there is no option to replay a broadcast, so as soon as the video ends it disappears. This is by design. Periscopes initially were deleted after 24 hours too but the service added permanent replays eventually.
