Instagram Introduces Pixel Effect for Hiding People and Objects in Stories

Instagram has released a new Pixel effect that hides people and objects in Stories by pixelating them. The user describes the part they want to hide in text, and the tool blurs that area. The feature is designed to make it easier to create “soft launch” posts that show a new relationship without revealing the partner’s identity.

Many people gradually reveal their relationships on social media. According to data released by Tinder in 2023, 26 percent of people aged 18 - 34 in the UK preferred to introduce a new partner gradually. The share of those who wanted to reveal their relationship with a major announcement was 8 percent. In a more recent survey, 46 percent of single American Gen Z social media users said they revealed their relationships gradually. The share choosing a “hard launch,” immediately and openly showing their partner, was 37 percent.

Many people also never share their relationships on social media. In a 2024 survey of 1000 adults from Gen Z and the millennial generation, 45 percent of participants said they did not show their relationship online or did not use social media. Those who revealed their relationship in stages did so mainly to protect their own or their partner’s privacy. Pixel could offer such couples a middle ground between complete secrecy and an open post.

Pixel was not created only for relationship posts. Parents can hide a child’s face in a family photo, while other users can conceal a stranger who accidentally appears in the frame. This helps protect the privacy of people who did not consent to having their photo shared. Before publishing a Story, the user can pixelate the relevant person or object.

The new effect has arrived amid ongoing debate about how Meta uses images. In July, the company briefly allowed AI-generated images to reference public Instagram accounts, but removed the feature following criticism. Smart glasses with cameras had also raised concerns about people nearby being photographed without their knowledge. Pixel at least helps hide those people before a Story is published.