Animated GIFs are about to take over Instagram Stories.

The photo-sharing app added support Tuesday for animated GIF stickers to Stories in an update rolling out to Instagram's iPhone and Android apps.

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With the update, which comes via a tie-in with GIF powerhouse Giphy, users can now decorate their in-app snaps with animated stickers. The creations can then be shared to Instagram Stories or privately with friends via Instagram Direct.

To find the stickers, look for the "GIF" option in the sticker menu. There, you can search for specific GIFs (e.g. "pizza") or search for the types of GIFs you want to use. You can search for "emoji" to look for emoji-themed creations, for example, or "accessories" to find stickers to add to faces.

Examples of Instagram's emoji-themed GIF stickers.Credit: Instagram appCredit: instagram app

The update is yet another example of Instagram copying and one-upping Snapchat at the same time. Snapchat added animated stickers and filters to its app last year, but its offerings aren't as comprehensive as Instagram's.

Additionally, Instagram announced that it will no longer require photos and videos shared to Stories to be cropped to a specific size. An upcoming update will allow you to share videos and photos cropped to any size in Stories (yes, this means you can finally share horizontal pics and clips in your Story). No word on when that update is rolling out, but the company says it will be "in the coming weeks."

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TopicsInstagramSocial Media