JAKARTA - After nearly a decade of missing, the Hipstamatic social network is trying to get back to beating Instagram. Now, the app is available through Apple's App Store for iPhone photography enthusiasts.

This new Hipstamatic appears with an initial version similar to Instagram. Photographers can upload images to their main feed and share photos with other friends or users who have similar hobbies.

This simple format has actually been abandoned by Instagram itself for a long time. This is done to fulfill its platform with algorithms and features like Reels, which imitate TikTok.

However, it seems, Hipstamatic is not interested in that. The application is reluctant to allow uploading videos or filters like those already on Instagram.

Instead, the company says it wants to focus on the nostalgia of the 1980s as more Gen Z is interested in foldable phones, vinyl albums, and old-school photos. The app advertises itself as the return of the original analog point-and-shoot camera, on its website.

Feel the retro camera that changes iPhone photography forever. The Hipstamatic brings all the excitement, uniqueness, and randomness of film photography into your pocket," Hipstamatitic said.

The app also doesn't have algorithmic feeds, which means instead of viewing popularly ranked photos or photos based on previous views, the content is chronological.

Hipstamatic seeks to remove influencer content by allowing users to only follow up to 99 people, with nine people appointed as close friends. This format is similar to Path's limiting friends in its profile.

Photos on Hipstamatic don't last long, it will disappear from the social network after 30 days. But users can export creations to the Rol Camera, or only use the app as a photo editing app, as quoted from TechCrunch, Thursday, March 23.

To maintain its application, Hipstamatic sets a subscription price of 4.99 US dollars per month or 29.99 US dollars per year that will unlock premium filters, editing features, and other facilities such as claiming the username of choice on social networks.

It should be noted that the updated Hipstamatic app will replace Hipstamatic X on the App Store, designed to directly answer Instagram users' disappointments and only specifically for iPhone users, not on Android.

The app comes amid user complaints over the current state of Instagram, they expressed frustration with Meta's too messy app.

As well as its focus on catching up to TikTok, its algorithmic feed diverting them from friend updates, unwanted recommendations and advertising, as well as its push to get users to follow creators and brands instead of people they know.


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