By Pascal Oparada (Social Media/Tech Reporter)
Soon, the photo-sharing app, Instagram will release its Direct messaging on the web. The company is internally testing the feature, according to TechCrunch.
A web version could make Instagram a more full-fledged alternative to SMS rather than an added feature to the app.
Analysts believe messages are a massive way of driving engagement that draws users back to an app, knowing friends can receive them anywhere could make users send more.
In the current design, Direct on the web is available from a Direct arrow icon in the top right of the screen. It looks like the feature will use Instagram.com/direct/ URL structure.
If the feature becomes available, Facebook will, perhaps, break out with its own similar to https//www.messenger.com, which it launched in 2015.
Instagram started testing a standalone app last year but it is not yet popular.