New Instagram feature: This will help you save data

Facebook-owned Instagram has announced a new opt-in feature that will allow users to reduce the amount of data consumed on the photo-sharing platform. This feature has been designed specifically for emerging markets where data plans and internet speeds may be limited, Instagram said in a statement. "With this opt-in mode, people across the world can view their favourite content on Instagram with reduced image loading time, by reducing the amount of data that Instagram uses on their mobile phones," it added.

As per reports, Instagram has over 70 million users in India and over a billion globally. 

How the new feature will work

After you enable the new feature, videos will not be pre-loaded and high-resolution images will not be downloaded, except in certain circumstances that the user chooses, Instagram said. Further, you will be able to choose whether you never want to see high-resolution media or if you want to see such content when you are on Wi-Fi or Cellular/Wi-Fi connections. "With this data saver feature, we are hoping for an uninterrupted Instagram experience in slow network areas, which in turn will increase people's interactions with their friends and family," Manish Chopra, Director and Head of Partnerships, Facebook India, said.

The new Instagram feature will be available globally for Android users. It will be rolled out slowly over the course of a week. 

Last month, the photo-sharing app had announced new designs in Explore, bringing to users more ways to discover photos, videos, products and Stories relevant to their respective interests.