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Stories Feature Debut on Signal Social App
Signal’s Tales feature lets you make and share photos, videos, and messages with friends that disappear after 24 hours.
Keynotes
- Signal Beta users may access Tales.
- In Signal’s options, users may disable the Tales function.
- Beta testers may only access the Signal Story Editor and Stories Feed.
- Signal will likely alter the Tales feature after hearing feedback.
Over the past several years, Signal has been steadily integrating more and more popular chat features into its encrypted messaging app, and now it’s adding tales to the mix. Users in Signal’s beta programme may now access Tales. Signal has a feature similar to Snapchat and Instagram’s “stories” that lets you make and share photos, videos, and messages with your friends that disappear after 24 hours.
Signal’s end-to-end encryption is a defining feature and remains integral to the storytelling experience. Greyson Parrelli, who works for Signal, announced the beta release in a forum publication. He also explained who may be able to read your messages:
“Always remember that it is up to you to decide who gets to hear your tales. All of your Signal connections (Contacts = Signal connections)Plus, anybody you’ve had a 1:1 conversation with will be able to read your accounts, or you may choose certain people or groups to share them with. When you post a story to a group, everyone will have access to read it, interact with it, and respond to it.
For those who have had enough of Signal’s Tales feature, it may be turned off entirely in the app’s preferences. This will prevent you from posting any tales, but it will also prevent you from seeing any stories by other authors.
Only Signal beta testers can access the Story Editor and Stories Feed during the testing phase. Overall, it seems well-received; however, some have voiced displeasure about the amount of space the “stories” section takes up. After receiving feedback, Signal will likely change the Tales feature before releasing it in the main stable app.
Meredith Whittaker was elected President of Signal last month. Whittaker, a member of the Signal board of directors since 2020, is working to ensure the app’s continued success and is helping shape its general direction. While the organisation does have expansion plans, she assured The Washington Post that “our purpose, not a desire for wealth,” was the driving force behind such strategies.
