Instagram Adds Live Video With a Twist

After  but often  on Facebook and Twitter, live video is coming to .

The Facebook-owned photo-sharing app is adding the ability to broadcast live video streams as part of its Stories feature. Unlike live video posted to Facebook, though, it will disappear forever once you're done streaming, which Instagram  is designed to make you "feel more comfortable sharing anything, anytime."

The  live-streaming app had a similar setup; live broadcasts initially disappeared when they were done.

The update will roll out to Instagram's 500 million users over the next several weeks. To see if it has reached your app yet, swipe to the right from your feed to open the camera and look for the "Start Live Video" button. Tapping it will let you broadcast live for up to an hour to your followers, who might get a notification so they can tune in.

Meanwhile, if one of your followers starts live streaming, their profile in the Stories bar at the top of the app will gain a pink "live" icon to alert you to tune in.

Stories itself  first introduced by Instagram's rival, . In addition to live video's debut, Instagram today is further encroaching on Snapchat's turf with a new disappearing photos and video option for direct messages.

You can send a

disappearing photo or video either as a group or individual message, and as with Snapchat, once the recipient views the photo or video, it will soon disappear from their inbox. They can replay it or take a screenshot, though. Instagram's  notes that you'll be able to tell if they've done so.

The disappearing photos and videos option starts rolling out today, although Instagram didn't offer a timeframe for when it would reach all users.