Discount codes in online shops, detailed articles and videos or, for example, the registration for one Newsletter: With the “Swipe Up” call in their Instagram story, influencers and companies have been able to forward their followers from the social media platform directly to websites. Now the service changes the function – a test run that took place a few months earlier serves as the basis.
Instagram is testing changes in stories – now that follows Consequence
Already in June 2021 Instagram started probing a change in the stories. While until then only profiles with more than 10,000 followers and verified accounts could share a swipe-up link in their story, in the summer the feature was also opened for selected profiles with lower subscription numbers and without verification.
The well-known wiping up, with which one could get to linked websites, was also replaced by a sticker on a trial basis. With the introduction, Instagram wanted to find out what response the changed function would meet.
The former Head of Product, Vishal Shah, had made it clear to The Verge at the time that the aim of the test was to use the stickers as swipe-up Replacement continues to roll out. They would better match the way the platform is currently being used, Shah said. Now the results of the trial phase are showing: Instagram will finally stop the swipe-up function on August 30, 2021.
Swipe-up replacement for Instagram: Who can use the feature now
Instead, the new link stickers will be available in the future – initially only to those who meet the criteria (verified account and / or over 10,000 followers) for the previous swipe-up -Feature meet. The possibility of offering the direct links to more users as a story option is still being investigated, a spokesman for Instagram told The Verge.
Instagram stickers instead of wiping up: This is the main advantage
But what exactly do the stickers actually change, apart from the hand movement with which websites can be called up directly from a story? In fact, the stickers offer more opportunities for interaction. While it was previously not possible to react to the stories with swipe-up function via emojis or direct messages, these reactions work when using link stickers – if you want, you can now also provide direct feedback for the stories with a link.

