Meta added a feature on Messenger that lets users send stickers that they created themselves almost a month ago, and Instagram is catching up on the trend. Some users can create stickers using their own photos to add to various Instagram video formats.
New Instagram Stickers Feature
You might not have it yet as Instagram is still testing the feature, but as soon as it rolls out to all users, you'll be able to create stickers from your own photos. Upon creation, you will be able to add them to Reels and Stories like you would with the readily available stickers.
The key difference between Facebook's sticker feature and Instagram's is that the former uses AI to generate stickers through text prompts, while Instagram has taken on a simpler approach by allowing you to use your photos, remove the background, and create a PNG sticker.
Instagram Head Adam Mosseri demonstrated on his broadcast channel how the feature can be used, as per Engadget, stating that you can also create stickers using "eligible images you see on Instagram" aside from the ones saved on your device.
There's not much revealed about the feature yet, which is understandable since it's still being tested, but the feature not relying on AI to be created might be an upside. Aside from not having to wait longer for it to be generated, it might also be safer for Instagram.
It's unclear what kind of moderation system Instagram will have in place to prevent users from making stickers out of inappropriate images, but the Meta may have already learned its lesson in its AI-generated stickers through its messaging app.
AI-Generated Stickers Controversy
It's possible that Meta did not anticipate how the AI sticker generator would be able to create the kind of content that they themselves would take down. Users have found that with the right text prompt, they can create rude or offensive stickers on the platform.
For instance, one user was able to create AI-generated images of Luigi holding a rifle by typing in "Waluigi rifle" on the text field. While this can be hilarious for some, there are other text prompts that have created disturbing images.
Another user put in "child soldier" on the text field and Messenger generated photos of children in military uniform holding assault rifles. The creator of the stickers Pier-Olivier Desbiens expressed that we "really do live in the stupidest future imaginable."
Furthermore, Desbiens pointed out that anyone involved in creating the AI feature has not thought it through, as reported by Ars Technica. The generative AI tool is fun to use, but Meta could put down a couple of restrictions to avoid this kind of trouble.
Hopefully, there will be more strict guidelines for the Instagram feature that's being tested, given that users might take advantage of the fact that they can use any image on their device. If anything, it would be easier to create rude or offensive stickers through self-sourced images than AI-generated ones.
