Instagram may add private messaging to take on Snapchat

The report comes from GigaOM, and says that before the end of the year, Instagram is going to push out a major update to its app that will include private messaging. The messaging will apparently be both for one-on-one and group messaging, but unfortunately there is no other information available. It is unclear if it will simply be private messaging or if it will be messages that "self-destruct" like with Snapchat. 

Of course, this is what tends to happen in the business. Facebook attempted to purchase Snapchat for a reported $3 billion in cash, but was refused. So, if Facebook can't acquire them, it might as well use its last big purchase - Instagram - to make a rival product. We've seen this before with Google and Flipboard, of course that didn't really work out so well as Google Currents never really took off. 

source: GigaOM via The Verge