Soon, make video calls using Instagram!

• Video chats can be expected to roll out in 'the coming weeks'.

Instagram has announced new ways to share moments by allowing the users to post to "Stories" directly from other apps. They have also announced that video calling will be coming to the app soon. "To start a video chat, simply tap the new camera icon at the top of a Direct thread. You can chat one-on-one or with a small group - and you can keep the conversation going for as long as you like. You can also minimize the video and continue the chat while doing other things on Instagram," the official blog said regarding the functionality of the upcoming feature.

According to the company's official blog, video chats can be expected to roll out in 'the coming weeks'. Instagram confirmed that the feature is currently on the test phase and will be released globally soon. It remains unclear however if the feature will work in UAE.

Earlier, UAE's Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) said that it is holding discussions with software giants Microsoft and Apple to allow online call services through their popular apps, Skype and FaceTime, respectively, in the country. Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori, Director General of the TRA, said that discussions aimed at providing the services in UAE, emphasising that their ties with the tech giants were 'strong and stable'.

Also, the photo-messaging app has unlocked the ability for third parties to design unique, interactive camera experiences for users, allowing them to experiment with new effects in "Stories" with the "Try it on" feature.

To control the growing "hate culture", the Facebook-owned firm has improvised its existing customized comment filter.

"Last year, we announced our offensive comment filter, which automatically hides toxic and divisive comments, particularly those aimed at at-risk groups. This new filter hides comments containing attacks on a person's appearance or character, as well as threats to a person's well-being or health," said Kevin Systrom, Instagram Co-Founder and CEO.

In the coming weeks, a new update of the "Explore" feature is also expected that would organise the content into topics and channels for quicker results, the company said.