The social media world has spoken. Screenshots of a possible new Snapchat-like app are now surfacing from a small number of Android users.
What is Bolt?
Bolt, a supposed new app created by Instagram, is said to be “one tap photo messaging,” which sounds a lot like our good friend, Snapchat. The notification appeared at the top of some users’ Instagrams as a banner, and the “free” link did not work. While the first assumption is that Bolt is a new app that was leaked too soon, there are a few other explanations.
Instagram has also been recently dabbling in consumer ads. If Bolt is indeed not an app, it is possible that it could be a new type of smaller banner ad, instead of the full-sized photo ads of the present.
Another concern is that Instagram already released the not so popular, Instagram Direct. Even though it doesn’t have the same properties as Snapchat, Instagram Direct is still a photo messaging app (even if it’s not a very successful one). It is hard to believe that the company would choose to release another app with similar qualities.
Still, there are also possibilities that this was just a test, and will result in neither an app nor a new banner. Check out one of the alerts below:
Source: Twitter @yo_areli
Did anyone else get this weird bolt notification on their Instagram earlier? pic.twitter.com/SBrLH7qTTK
— areli i (@yo_areli) July 24, 2014
An Instagram representative also recently told Mashable, “We don’t have anything to share right now.” That might be true, but I for one will be on the lookout for Instagram’s next move.
What do you think? Would you make the potential switch from Snapchat to Bolt?
Sources:
“New App or New Ad? Instagram Teases Us With Bolt” By Kurt Wagner. Mashable.
“Instagram May Have Leaked an Image of its Snapchat Competitor, Bolt” By Ellis Hamburger. The Verge.
