Everyone knows that the comments section has been the best part of social media since the early days of YouTube. Now, Instagram is giving creators a reason to spend more time scrolling through laugh-worthy reactions, as the social media platform launches a new feature that allows users to add GIFs (!) to the comments section instead of just text and emoticons symbol. That means the next time an engagement announcement leaves you speechless, or a meme makes you laugh so hard you can barely breathe, you can post a GIF that perfectly describes how you're feeling.
Instagram began rolling out GIF comments globally the week of May 15, after the feature was made available to select users during a limited availability phase. The animated images come directly from the GIF search engine Giphy, but don't worry because you don't need to download the app to use the feature. Additionally, you can access the platform's vast library of memes without having to leave IG or create an account like you would on the app. In fact, leaving a GIF comment is literally as easy as pressing a button, so don’t be surprised if your next IG post is filled with GIF comments, as it’s bound to be a hit among your less tech-savvy relatives welcome.
To try the feature out for yourself, just navigate to the comments section of a post and click on the GIF box to the right of the text box. From there, you can choose the GIF that best represents your reaction by scrolling through the Giphy popup, or you can search for a word or phrase in the text box at the top of the page. No, seriously, it's that simple.
Be sure to think carefully before choosing a GIF, as the dynamic image will automatically be posted to the comments section once you click on an option. Of course, you can always delete a comment after it's posted, but this can be a bit embarrassing, especially if the creator has already seen the comment notification. Also, keep in mind that you can't write a message containing text or emojis along with the GIF, but you can reply to your own comment by clicking the Reply button.
You can use GIFs in comments on grid or reel posts, meaning you never have to leave a written comment again if you don't want to. Of course, the future is supposed to be flying cars and hoverboards, but that’s cool too.
