Instagram has introduced new sticker types to enhance your Stories and Reels, along with an updated version of the “Emoji Pong” game to challenge your friends.

To start, Instagram has rolled out 38 new stickers, including popular classics like hearts and days of the week, which you can now incorporate into your Stories and Reels.

While it's not a significant upgrade or overhaul, these additions will offer more ways to connect as we approach the final months of the year.

Regardless, there are some intriguing new features to explore.

Instagram has also reintroduced an updated version of its “Emoji Pong” game, allowing you to send an emoji to a friend via DM. If either of you taps on it, you can challenge each other to a game.

Instagram initially introduced this option as an Easter egg back in March, but it has now refined the user interface and added more features to the in-app game.

These new features seem to be aimed primarily at students returning to school, who are looking for fresh ways to engage on the platform. While they may not represent major enhancements in functionality, the novelty of these new connection options is likely to enhance Instagram's appeal as an interactive tool for this audience.

The updates are now live in the latest version of the app.