Artifact, the platform developed by Instagram’s co-founders, is introducing a new feature that allows users to create posts. The platform, which previously served as a news aggregator, is expanding its functionality to become more of a social network. Users can now post their own content directly on Artifact without needing to include a link, building upon the recent launch of the Links feature. This new capability enables personalization algorithms to assist users in discovering new content that they may not have otherwise come across.
By tapping the “+” icon on the top right corner of the Links tab, users can start creating posts by adding images, titles, and text. Artifact emphasizes that users can post a wide range of content, including restaurant reviews, how-to guides, family recipes, app breakdowns, and design inspirations. All posts will appear in the visual feed of content shared by the community and can be distributed to the user’s followers. Additionally, posts have unique URLs that can be shared on different platforms for easier sharing.
This latest development showcases Artifact’s expansion beyond its role as a news aggregator and its venture into social networking. While Artifact had already introduced commenting on articles and tools for writers to track their readership, the addition of the Posts feature positions Artifact directly in competition with established social networks. The launch of this new feature comes shortly after Artifact’s co-founder and CEO, Kevin Systrom, spoke about exploring product-market fit and the use of machine learning and mobile technology for the app’s success. He also discussed his optimism regarding the potential of AI in enhancing human capabilities.
