Instagram has rolled out a new feature in the U.S. that allows students to add their college or university to their profile. This update aims to help students connect more easily with classmates and friends from the same campus.
How It Works
Students verified through the UNiDAYS verification platform can add their school as a banner that displays on their Instagram profile. Once verified, users can browse a directory of other students from the same institution. They can even filter their search by graduation year, making it easier to reconnect with old classmates or find new friends on campus.
Catching Up with Competition
This feature arrives shortly after TikTok launched a similar school-based profile option, signaling a race among social media platforms to become the go-to place for campus networking and student communities, much like Facebook’s original mission in its early days.
Benefits and Concerns
While this feature helps freshers find friends before arriving on campus and keeps alumni connected, it also raises privacy considerations. Users are encouraged to be mindful about sharing school information as it could potentially be misused. The feature, however, is optional, allowing users to keep their profiles separate from their student life if they choose.
Availability
For now, the feature is limited to the U.S. market, but it could see expansion based on user feedback and demand.
Instagram’s new college profile feature aims to recreate campus connections in a digital space, facilitating a stronger sense of community among students and alumni alike.