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Instagram CEO Announces New Way To Send Photo Messages Directly To Friends

STUDIO CITY (CBSLA.com) — Instagram CEO Kevin Systrom Thursday announced a new addition to the photo-sharing app, called Instagram Direct.

The feature allows users to share photos and videos with a specific person or group of people.

"As we've grown, Instagram has evolved not only into a community of photographers, but also into a means of visual communication," the company said. "There are, however, moments in our lives that we want to share, but that will be the most relevant only to a smaller group of people — an inside joke between friends captured on the go, a special family moment or even just one more photo of your new puppy. Instagram Direct helps you share these moments."

In the new version of the app, which became available on iPhone and Android devices Thursday, users can tap the "Direct" tab instead of "Followers" to select a friend or up to 15 friends to send the photo or video to. Once the followers receive it, they can chat and "like" the image and even respond with a photo back.

Messages sent from accounts the user follows will immediately appear in the inbox in the top right corner of the home feed, but if a person the user is not following attempts to send a photo or video, it will go into requests, and the user has the option to view it or not.

For more information about Instagram Direct, click here.

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