Instagram users can now send private photos that disappear after the recipient has viewed them with each other. The update of the social-mobile app service is also starting to make live video streaming available in select markets.Live video streams will become part of Instagram Stories, a recently-launched Snapchat-like feature that allows the sharing of quick snapshots and short video clips.

Instagram Add Live Streaming Video With A Twist

According to Wired, the two new features build on Instagram Stories, which the company introduced last August and says has seen over 100 million people using it every day. Not bad, considering that’s a healthy fifth of Instagram’s monthly active users, and just 50 million short of Snap’s reported daily users (150 million).

“Live video felt like an inevitable step for Stories,” said Instagram Product Manager Shilpa Sarkar. The live streaming experience itself is very similar to Periscope, or Facebook’s own Live streaming feature for that matter, in that the launch of a live stream automatically triggers a notification to one’s followers.

Instagram Over Snapchat

As reported by The Verge, live video is rolling out to a test group of users today. It’s part of a bigger update that also includes a redesigned version of Instagram Direct that brings Snapchat-style direct messaging to the app. Now above your main list of direct messages, you’ll see a top row of “camera conversations” that mimics the row of Instagram stories on top of your feed.

In addition to broadcast stories, you can message individuals or groups now the stories camera. As on Snapchat, the app will tell you if someone takes a screenshot. Live video will be made available to a small group of users today. The revamped Instagram direct should be available to all users within the next day or so.