Instagram announced yet another expansion for the feature Notes, through which users would be able to add notes from the messaging menu on both Reels and feed posts within the app.
followers now get added option to interact with friends other than the usual ways.

The same approach applies to feed posts, with the ability for followers to leave a Note directly on the post, almost acting like sticky Post-It type of messages attached to the update.
The Notes are temporary-they last three days-and only available on mutual follows, which adds a simple option to spark interaction among your friends.

And so far, Notes has proved to be a super-popular addition for the app, with young users taking to notes "at a wild pace". Indeed, Instagram reported last June that teen users create notes at 10 times the rate of non-teens.

Notes was initially rolled out as an in-app feature confined to the inbox-only, leaving the rest of the conversation prompts at the top of your inbox, but IG has since expanded it to profiles, and also added a raft of other Notes features.

It first started testing Notes on Reels and feed posts back in May.

As explained by IG:

This new feature comes amidst people continuing to focus on more private interactions with their mutuals and Close Friends, on IG, where early testing of the feature finds that people are enjoying the ability to leave quick thoughts and commentary on Notes for friends and mutuals to see, especially about comedic content.

Of course, Meta also desperately wants to retain young people wherever it can, because most of them have been drifting off to TikTok and Snap instead, with Meta's apps losing their cool factor to come degree. Which is why it's doubling and tripling down on Notes, however it can.

So, if you're reading this update and are like "who even cares about Notes?" Then yeah, it's not for you, and Notes are popular with certain groups.

While Instagram is also taking the time to make people more aware of Notes, new notifications about when people leave their first Note.

IG is also letting users know if their connections leave their first Note, kinda like as a promotion to the new feature.

According to Instagram, notes on Reels and feed posts will bring more space for the following:

React to posts in real time: Notes on Feed and Reels posts should allow for timely reactions on the content that your friends are enjoying besides seeing how they react to their favorite posts as you scroll.
Share hot takes: Since your Notes on Feed and Reels only appear for three days, feel free to share your hottest takes and unfiltered opinions about timely content like celebrity hard launches, restaurant recommendations in your city, and your reactions to the newest viral meme.
Get those friends excited: Post notes on your BFF's selfie, freak out about the surprise song from Taylor Swift, or get hyped for the new collab that just dropped with your favorite brand.
I mean, honestly, the terminology here seems pretty obviously geared to young people, or at least to appeal more to younger users.

So what's the big whoop?
Well, again, IG really wants to stay connected with young people if it can, so in that context, Notes are super important. But for everybody else, I would venture to say this hasn't even begun to raise the level of activity on your posts.

But it might be a helpful way to solicit commentary, and depending on your audience, it's another interactive feature that might be a good addition to the mix.