Just In: Instagram link previews have finally returned to Twitter

Instagram link previews have returned to Twitter almost a decade after they vanished.

Since 2012, tweets including a link to an Instagram post have displayed only that – a link. The link will now display a tiny preview of the Instagram post, allowing you to make a more informed decision about whether you wish to view it in full on the Instagram app.

The feature is available on Android, iOS, and Twitter’s online edition.

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“They said that it would never happen… “Today, when you share an Instagram link on Twitter, a preview of that post will display,” Instagram stated in a tweet announcing the change, adding: “Now, when you share an Instagram link on Twitter, a preview of that post will appear.”

They said it would never happen… Twitter Card previews start rolling out TODAY. 👀

Now, when you share an Instagram link on Twitter a preview of that post will appear. 🙌 pic.twitter.com/XSZRx9dzd1

— Instagram (@instagram) November 3, 2021

Twitter’s Support account also mentioned the new feature, writing, “If you want to publish your latest Instagram post on the Twitter timeline as well, you’re in luck: When you tweet a link to an Instagram post, it now appears as a card with a preview of the photo.”

If you want to share your latest Instagram post on the Twitter timeline too, you’re in luck: now when you share a link to an IG post in a Tweet, it’ll show up as a card with a preview of the photo.

Rolling out on Android, iOS, and web.

— Twitter Support (@TwitterSupport) November 3, 2021

The addition of previews should benefit Twitter because it means that people who use the app are less likely to go to Instagram to investigate a link, and may not return until much later.

And with Twitter these days full of all forms of material, Instagram seems to have finally come around to the concept that it’s preferable to offer a preview image than just a simple link, reversing its decision to eliminate previews in 2012.

It’s unclear why Instagram has reintroduced previews to Twitter. Digital Trends has contacted the social media company for additional information, and we will update this article once we receive it.

In other Twitter news today, the microblogging site has just made it easier for iOS users (Android and web coming soon) to switch between “latest” tweets that show posts in chronological order and “home” tweets that show a list of tweets that a Twitter algorithm calculates you’ll be most interested in.

Before this, you had to tap a “star” icon at the top of the display and then decide if you wanted the “latest” or “home” feed, however, now both options appear as tabs at the top of the display, making it much quicker to flick between them.