Instagram Unveils Instants: A New Era Of Authentic, Ephemeral Photo Sharing

Instagram has officially announced the global rollout of Instants, its latest innovation designed for authentic, ephemeral photo sharing. Developed to capture genuine moments, this new feature encourages users to share candid snapshots that disappear after a single view and remain available for just 24 hours.

Embracing Authenticity In A Curated Era

Long known for its polished, curated visuals, Instagram is now shifting its focus to more natural content. With Instants, users capture photos using Instagram’s in-app camera without the ability to edit or upload from their device’s gallery. This deliberate restriction aligns closely with trends pioneered by platforms such as Snapchat, Locket, and BeReal, ensuring that the content remains fresh, spontaneous, and true to life.

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Enhanced Interaction And Robust Privacy Controls

Recipients of Instants can respond using reactions, emojis or by sending their own Instant in return. Instagram also said the feature includes safeguards designed to discourage screenshots and recordings of shared content. Users additionally have the option to mute or block specific accounts within the feature’s settings.

Seamless Integration With Instagram’s Ecosystem

Instants will appear through a mini photo stack integrated into the bottom-right section of Instagram’s inbox interface. The company also introduced supporting tools, including a private one-year archive and recap options for Instagram Stories. An undo feature allows users to retract shared Instants before they are viewed.

Positioning In The Competitive Landscape

The launch reflects Instagram’s broader effort to expand beyond highly curated influencer-style content and strengthen more private, low-pressure interactions between users. While platforms focused on spontaneous sharing have experienced fluctuating popularity in recent years, Instagram is positioning Instants as part of a growing demand for more casual and direct communication features within social media ecosystems.

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Eurobank Wins Two Euromoney Awards Following Cyprus Merger

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

July 17, 2026

Eurobank has been named Cyprus’ Best Bank for 2026 by Euromoney, while also receiving the award for Best Bank for Large Corporates at the publication’s latest Awards for Excellence.

Merger Marks A Milestone

The awards recognise the bank’s performance during 2025, a year marked by the completion of the legal merger between Hellenic Bank and Eurobank Cyprus. The transaction created Eurobank Limited, which the group says is now Cyprus’ largest banking and insurance organisation, with assets exceeding €28 billion.

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Euromoney’s Awards for Excellence evaluate banks’ performance over the previous calendar year, with this edition covering January 1 to December 31, 2025.

Lending, Customers And Digital Growth

Eurobank said its business lending portfolio expanded by around 17 per cent during 2025, while its customer base grew to more than 710,000 retail clients and 11,500 business customers.

The bank also continued its digital expansion, saying more than 96 per cent of transactions are now completed through digital channels, and most financing applications are submitted via its mobile app.

Expanding International Presence

Eurobank also highlighted the opening of its first representative office in India, describing the move as a step toward strengthening business links between Cyprus and India while supporting Cyprus’ role as a gateway to the European Union for Indian businesses and investors.

According to the bank, Euromoney recognised not only the successful completion of the merger but also its lending growth, digital transformation and contribution to Cyprus’ position as an international business and investment hub.

CEO On The Awards

“The Euromoney awards confirm Eurobank’s strong momentum and the successful implementation of our group’s strategy in Cyprus,” Chief Executive Michalis Louis said.

He said the merger strengthened the bank’s ability to support households, businesses and the wider economy, while highlighting continued investment in digital services and the opening of the representative office in India as key milestones during the year.

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