Clone Wars: Google Search Could Get A Instagram Stories Clone That Lets Readers Post Comments

Alphabet Inc.'s GOOG GOOGL Google is working on adding a dash of social to its web stories, allowing users to create Instagram Stories-like posts that include text, images, emojis, and more.

What Happened: Google is experimenting with a feature that replicates Meta Platforms Inc.'s META Instagram Stories, allowing users to interact with stories and for publishers to better connect with their readers, initially spotted by @AssembleDebug.

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Initially popularized by Snap Inc.'s SNAP Snapchat, Stories have found their way to several popular social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and even the Meta-owned WhatsApp.

While Google has had its own take on Stories in the form of its Web Stories initiative for publishers and content creators on YouTube, it's now experimenting with making Google Search more social with user-published Stories and Notes.

Why Is It Important: The story publishing tool is currently being tested in the Google app. While the company already has web story publishing integration for content creators and publishers, this is the first instance of these tools being spotted in the Google app itself.

These Stories will appear in search results on the web and the Google feed on Android phones and the Google app.

According to code snippets found by 9to5Google, the social aspect here is that Google could let users post comments on these Stories. For instance, publishers could ask users what they think about the story, and users could post their responses in the end – pretty much like a social media post or a blog post with comments.

While the idea of social interactions in Web Stories on Google seems complicated for now, especially with the Google app already flooded with a wide range of features, it remains to be seen if Google's latest attempt at building a social network has any takers.

Image Credits – Shutterstock

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