For instance, users can use a QR code to share any post or Reel, even others' posts or Reels. More importantly, they can also share a QR code location via its searchable Map experience. Though typically, people will usually share posts via direct messages or URL, the QR codes can really help as in marketing, such as Coinbase Super Bowl ad, and can also help promote businesses.

Many users, including members of the editorial staff of TechCrunch, have discovered this feature. Users can navigate to any Reel, post, or location and tap the three-dot menu to share through a QR code. On the web, users can append "qr" to the end of a post's URL to generate a QR code. Notably, the ability to share profiles via QR codes has been available on Instagram for a couple of years. It is the first time the company is providing such an option for individual posts.

"To make it easier for people and businesses to share specific content, we recently launched the ability to create QR codes for profiles, tags, locations, reels, and more," a Meta spokesperson told TechCrunch.

App sleuth Alessandro Paluzzi earlier reported that Instagram was working on the QR code-sharing feature. Now, it looks like it's available to all users out there.

We cannot say if this feature of QR code-sharing is rolling out for all users across the world. We are seeking a comment from Meta. We will update the story as and when we hear from them.

This can be great for so many uses: actors can post it in multiple locations to push their next film or play; musicians can post a QR code to lead someone to Reel that may be teasing their next song or album; restaurants can print these out so people can look at the place and photos before visiting it.

Some startups such as Batch have tried to utilize QR codes to hasten shopping. So, it would not be a surprise if Instagram does the same with QR codes as a way to push forward its shopping-related efforts. Shoppers can hold demo products or set them up virtually to eventually push customers towards individual product posts on Instagram using QR codes.

In July, a Google executive said young people in the U.S. increasingly go to platforms such as TikTok and Instagram to seek out the next cool place to eat or find live music, and the Meta-owned platform launching sharable QR codes can help that search for the next great restaurant or live music venue.