Meta announced a major update to Instagram and its other apps on Tuesday, but instead of adding a new feature, the company is removing one. That’s because Meta confirmed it will shut down its Spark platform, which lets anyone create AR filters to use on the camera in apps like Instagram and Facebook.
Instagram’s AR filters are disappearing
Meta’s Spark was developed as a response to Snapchat, which already provided AR filters for users to take photos with. However, after a “thorough evaluation,” Meta says Spark will be discontinued on January 14, 2025.
“We are deeply grateful to the community of developers, companies and other key stakeholders who have been part of the Meta Spark journey. When we first launched this platform seven years ago, augmented reality experiences were new to most consumers,” the company said in a blog post.
With the end of Spark, Instagram and Facebook will no longer offer third-party AR filters for photos. The only ones that will remain available are those created by Meta itself, which will certainly reduce the catalog of available filters. Many developers have complained about the decision, as it is common for them to promote their profiles through custom filters.
Meta says the decision is part of a “larger effort to prioritize the products we believe will best meet the future needs of our consumers.”
AR filters will remain available in Meta’s apps until Spark is discontinued next year. Check out Meta’s website for more details. On a related note, Instagram announced on Tuesday that it will introduce new fonts, effects and animations for writing text in stories and posts.
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