Instagram is getting a new payment feature that allows users to purchase products directly from businesses through chat.
The popular social media platform announced that it will allow select users to make online purchases straight from direct messages. Customers will be able to place orders through DMs and then pay for them inside the app itself. Once the order is placed, the user will be allowed to view the status of the order, track its progress, and even cancel it if necessary.
Instagram said that selected small businesses will be able to get the new feature.
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“We want to help people start meaningful conversations with businesses they care deeply about and help them find products they love in an effortless, seamless experience, right within the conversation thread,” the IG team wrote in a blog post.
It’s still unclear how many users will be able to use it in its first tests. Businesses will need to use MetaPay to accept payments and there’s currently no information on other payment methods like cash on delivery, which is extremely popular in third-world countries. This service will be available in the United States, but international release could be possible in the future if it goes well.