Instagram has added a new caption feature to Reels and Stories, allowing further accessibility to both deaf users as well as those looking to watch videos muted.
This feature comes to Instagram in the form of one of the platform's iconic stickers. Specifically, caption stickers will allow users to automatically attach subtitles to their content, following verbal dialogue. Much like YouTube's very own CC (closed captions) feature, these can be both automated as well as heavily edited. Users can change and rearrange text in order to improve upon visibility, color, font, and even brush up dialogue missed or misinterpreted by the Instagram AI. The tool’s a truly helpful gadget, and one of the more savvier instalments to the Insta interface.
Unlike YouTube’s CC, however, Instagram's captions cannot be activated or deactivated by a viewer. Instead, much like other stickers on the platform, they are applied by the content creator before posting, and will remain. Naturally, accessible aa the feature is, users will still have to employ some creative editing in order to ensure that text is both legible and cleverly placed, so as to not bother other users. After all, unlike YouTube, a platform's that’s optimized for video-sharing and allows for much bigger frames, Instagram's limited to one's mobile screen. No point in the captions if they cover up the content they're enhancing upon, right?
However, this is still a big move upon the part of Instagram's developers. While captions are easily dated as a form of technology, their implementation at any point is important. Not only do they cater to an entire demographic of individuals with impairments, they also do much to relieve possible inconvenience in the form of language barriers. The ease with which caption stickers can be accessed and edited by creators is another plus point. Instagram's Stories and Reels are naturally much shorter than YouTube videos. Therefore, users don’t have to rely on AI automatically filling in captions that can prove to be incorrect. Doing the task by oneself is barely a problem.
As it stands, caption stickers only cater to English. Early launch sees them coming to Stories first, shortly followed by Reels. Either way, future updates might allow for a slew of other languages (TikTok's captions, although more similar to YouTube's CC, feature English and Japanese).
Read next: Here’s How Many YouTube Views, Instagram Sponsored Posts And TikTok Followers You Need To Make $100K In A Year
This feature comes to Instagram in the form of one of the platform's iconic stickers. Specifically, caption stickers will allow users to automatically attach subtitles to their content, following verbal dialogue. Much like YouTube's very own CC (closed captions) feature, these can be both automated as well as heavily edited. Users can change and rearrange text in order to improve upon visibility, color, font, and even brush up dialogue missed or misinterpreted by the Instagram AI. The tool’s a truly helpful gadget, and one of the more savvier instalments to the Insta interface.
Unlike YouTube’s CC, however, Instagram's captions cannot be activated or deactivated by a viewer. Instead, much like other stickers on the platform, they are applied by the content creator before posting, and will remain. Naturally, accessible aa the feature is, users will still have to employ some creative editing in order to ensure that text is both legible and cleverly placed, so as to not bother other users. After all, unlike YouTube, a platform's that’s optimized for video-sharing and allows for much bigger frames, Instagram's limited to one's mobile screen. No point in the captions if they cover up the content they're enhancing upon, right?
Sound off 🗣
— Instagram (@instagram) May 4, 2021
…with sound off 🔇
Now you can add a captions sticker in Stories (coming soon to Reels) that automatically turns what you say into text.
We’re starting in a handful of countries and hope to expand soon. pic.twitter.com/OAJjmFcx4R
However, this is still a big move upon the part of Instagram's developers. While captions are easily dated as a form of technology, their implementation at any point is important. Not only do they cater to an entire demographic of individuals with impairments, they also do much to relieve possible inconvenience in the form of language barriers. The ease with which caption stickers can be accessed and edited by creators is another plus point. Instagram's Stories and Reels are naturally much shorter than YouTube videos. Therefore, users don’t have to rely on AI automatically filling in captions that can prove to be incorrect. Doing the task by oneself is barely a problem.
As it stands, caption stickers only cater to English. Early launch sees them coming to Stories first, shortly followed by Reels. Either way, future updates might allow for a slew of other languages (TikTok's captions, although more similar to YouTube's CC, feature English and Japanese).
Read next: Here’s How Many YouTube Views, Instagram Sponsored Posts And TikTok Followers You Need To Make $100K In A Year
