Instagram Introduces Virtual Pets for Instagram and Horizon Worlds

Instagram introduces virtual pets in the messaging app and Horizon Worlds, which allows you to choose a name and even interact with the virtual pet along with your fellow users.

Instagram has begun rolling out the latest “Virtual pet” features for select users, enabling users to take photos of their digital companions right within the application. The feature extends to Meta’s VR platform, Horizon Worlds, where users can interact with their pets in a variety of immersive environments.

Creating Your Own Digital Companion

As you can see in these examples, posted by the app’s researcher, Jonah Manzano, some users are now being asked by the app to “Adopt a new best friend” to be the purpose of their Meta avatar. The customizable options allow users to choose their pet’s breed and color, as well as fur patterns and more, to create a custom virtual friend.

You can then engage with your virtual pet in VR, or take photos for your IG Stories.

After adoption and adopted, pets can be played with in VR or displayed on Instagram Stories, which blends digital art and social sharing. It’s like games such as Pokémon Go or Snapchat’s virtual pet that are available to Snapchat users.

Evolution of Virtual Pets on Instagram

Instagram has been testing digital pet concepts for a long time. Researchers Alexandro Paluzzi had previously identified Tamagotchi-like creatures that are in development, which require regular interactions and care. The current version is more decorative, with a focus on the personal and decorative aspects instead of maintenance.

With the growing use of pets on the internet, it is natural for Instagram to look into avatar-based companions in order to increase engagement with users and improve personalization.

A Thoughtful Pause on Virtual Companionship

Although this feature may seem enjoyable and lighthearted but it also raises bigger questions regarding Meta’s move towards virtual worlds that replace elements of life. 

Through encouraging users to make connections to digital pets and avatars, Meta might be increasing the retention of users, but is this the right direction?

There’s a legitimate concern about the psychological consequences of replacing physical connections with virtual ones. At the moment, we are unable to gather comprehensive data about the long-term effects of encouraging dependence on online entities as emotional or social platforms.

However, it is possible that these virtual pets could be an enjoyable and harmless addition to selfies of avatars, adding fun new layers to social media interactions. Always, balance and vigilance are crucial, even when using enjoyable features.

Personal Take

The addition of virtual pets is another method Meta is looking to boost the longevity of apps and time spent in the application. It is unclear if this is a welcomed new feature or a warning signal that needs to be watched closely. It is important to see how users react over the months ahead.