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If this beta-testing succeeds, losing this strategy could put new creators or those with small followings at a disadvantage.
Instagram has launched a lot of new features in the past year, including Instagram Shops, Reels, and most recently, the ability to share Tweets directly to your story from Twitter. The increase of small-scale tests like these, combined with bigger updates, suggests that Instagram is really devoting its energy and resources to creating an A+ user experience, and taking feedback heavily into consideration.
According to Social Media Today, this move may in part be due to a decrease in Story viewing activity among users: