Instagram to offer checkout feature on top influencer accounts

By

Gabriella Lacombe

Published
May 2, 2019

2019 is fast becoming Instagram’s year of shopping updates. The Facebook-owned app announced on April 30 that it will extend its new checkout feature to some of the social media platform's top influencer accounts.

Via the checkout feature, which was first introduced this March, users will be able to browse and purchase items viewed in select influencer posts, without having to leave Instagram to do so.  At first launch, the tool was only available to brands themselves, but the new extension will now allow influencers to tag items in their own posts for purchasing.

Moreover, the influencer tags will be limited to pieces from brands that are already part of Instagram’s checkout beta program, which is currently active in the U.S.

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Parent company Facebook also said that influencers will not make any money from purchases made by followers for now. However, the social media stars will receive engagement data and shopping insights from the shoppable posts, making them a valuable tool for measuring and maintaining social media sway.

Instagram said it will begin testing out the influencer checkout feature with some of its top members, including Gigi Hadid, Kim Kardashian West, Kris Jenner and Kylie Jenner, as well as select publications like Vogue and GQ.

The update will take effect May 9.