Instagram launches Schools feature for college students exclusively

Instagram has introduced a new feature called Schools on Instagram, a private space exclusively for students. The launch coincides with the return of students to class. To access this feature, college students are required to verify their enrollment on UNiDAYS, a platform that already verifies student status for discounts on various products and services. According to Jon Hawley, CEO of UNiDAYS, the partnership with Instagram aims to create a safer and more rewarding digital experience for students. By utilizing UNiDAYS’ verification technology, students can build more authentic and secure connections online. Upon verification, students can add their school to their profile, which can be made public, kept private, or shared with classmates or mutual connections. The feature allows students to connect with classmates through a school directory, enabling them to browse, search, and filter by year. This functionality is designed to facilitate community building and connection among students. Instagram’s move is notable, as it closely resembles TikTok’s recently announced Campus Verification feature, which also utilizes UNiDAYS for verification. The introduction of Schools on Instagram marks a significant development for the Meta-owned platform, highlighting its efforts to provide a dedicated space for students to interact and connect. As social media platforms continue to evolve, features like these demonstrate the ongoing importance of online communities and digital identity verification. With the new academic year underway, it will be interesting to see how students utilize this feature and how it impacts the overall user experience on Instagram.