Instagram planning to debut live video

BY SAM GUTELLE

Mobile livestreaming is among the hottest trends in the digital video world, and Instagram wants to get its piece of that pie. Kevin Systrom, the CEO of the photo- and video-sharing app, told the Financial Times last week that his company has plans to integrate a live video offering into its platform at some point in the future.

Systrom didn’t elaborate any exact plans for a live video product, but his responses show a willingness to build off the sharing-based economy Instagram has already established for itself. “Live is really exciting for us. I think it can enhance what we’re doing,” he said. “If I’m trying to strengthen relationships with someone I love, them streaming video to me live would be an amazing way to be closer to them.”

If Instagram does roll out live video, it could work together with its parent company Facebook, which has made livestreaming a top priority over the past year. At the same time, it is also likely to take cues from across the social web. Reports cited by Variety indicate that Instagram is testing a live product that would display content in a similar manner to the app’s recently launched Stories feature, which is an effective clone of the Snapchat feature of the same name.

Originally launched as a photo app, Instagram has evolved to keep up with changes in the social media landscape. It added a video product in 2013 and launched the aforementioned Stories feature in August.