Instagram today is rolling out ‘nametag’ which is an easy way to add friends on Instagram. The company also said that it is testing a new Instagram school communities feature in the US to help students connect with others from their university right in the app. Both the nametag and School communities features were rumored to be in works a while ago.
The nametag is a customizable identification card that allows people to find your Instagram profile when it’s scanned. Your nametag is uniquely yours and makes it quick and fun to add people and accounts you discover in person. To try out the nametag, head over to your profile, tap the menu button at the top right, and select “Nametag.”
It lets you personalize your nametag by touching anywhere on the screen or by tapping the button at the top to try other designs, such as colors, emojis, and selfies with different stickers. To scan someone’s nametag, you can either swipe right into the camera, hover over the nametag and hold down on your screen, or enter the camera by tapping “Scan a nametag.” You can also share your nametag with friends through text messages and over other platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp.
Instagram’s school communities let you connect with other students and recent grads from your university in a common space. If you choose to join, you can add a line to your profile listing your university, class year, and any relevant groups such as major, sports team, and sorority. Messages from people you don’t already follow will go to your pending inbox where you can choose to accept or decline.
The nametag is available globally on both Android and iOS starting today, while the School communities is currently testing in some US universities.