Instagram now lets you make online payments on its platform

A new feature has been quietly introduced by Instagram which allows you pay for goods and services online without leaving the app.

The feature was first noticed by a TechCrunch reader Genady Okrain. He tipped Techcrunch who then confirmed this from an Instagram spokesperson. The spokesperson said that native payments for booking appointments like at restaurants or salons is now live for a limited set of partners.

So how does this work? Well, the payment feature allows you to register a debit or credit card as part of a profile, set up a security pin, then start making payments for services online without ever leaving Instagram. The feature, as of now is not enabled for buying products but that should follow in the coming weeks.

Instagram users in the U.S. and U.K. presently has access to the payment settings which, according to its terms of service is backed by Facebook's Payment rules. This new features will come in handy and beneficial for both vendors and individuals who share photos of their goods and services on Instagram. We hope the company makes this feature available for Instagrammers in Africa as soon as possible.

What are your thoughts on the new payment feature? Leave a comment below.


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