Instagram allows users to share anyone's posts or Reels via a QR code. Additionally, users can also share a QR code location via the searchable map experience.
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Many users, including TechCrunch staff, have noticed this sharing option. Users can head to any Reel, post, or location and tap the three-dot menu to see the option for QR code sharing. Alternatively, on the web, users can add “/qr” to a post’s URL to generate a QR code. Notably, Instagram has had the ability to share profiles via QR codes for a few years now. But this is the first time the company has rolled out such an option for individual posts.
See also: Anyone can turn any public Instagram photo into a Reel
“To make it easier for people and businesses to share specific content, we recently introduced the ability to create QR codes for profiles, tags, locations, reels, and more,” a Meta spokesperson told TechCrunch.
Application engineer Alessandro Paluzzi previously stated that Instagram was working on a QR code-sharing feature. Now it appears to be available to the general user base.
Of course, it's not clear whether the ability to share QR codes is available to all users around the world.
This feature could be useful in many situations: actors can post it in different places to promote their next movie or show. Musicians can post a QR code to lead people to a Reel that can tease their next song or album.
See also: Young people prefer TikTok and Instagram for their searches instead of Google Search and Maps
Some startups like Batch have tried using QR codes to make shopping faster. So it wouldn’t be surprising if Instagram leveraged QR codes to promote its shopping -related efforts . Shoppers can display demo products or showcase them virtually to ultimately lead customers to individual product posts on Instagram via QR codes.
In July, a Google executive said that young people in the US are increasingly using platforms like TikTok and Instagram to discover new places to visit, and the Meta that distributes shareable QR codes can help find the next great restaurant or live music venue.
Information source: techcrunch.com
