Meta just solved this annoying problem with Slack after we complained about it
In a recent development that has brought relief to many Slack users, Meta has announced a fix for the longstanding issue of Instagram links not “unfurling” within the workplace chat application. For those unfamiliar with the term, “unfurling” refers to the automatic generation of a link preview that displays a snippet of the content, making it easier for users to engage with shared posts. This feature has been a standard for links from platforms like X, LinkedIn, and Reddit, but Instagram and Threads links had been notably absent from this functionality, leaving users frustrated. As a Business Insider writer highlighted, the absence of this feature was particularly vexing for those who enjoy sharing amusing or relevant content from Instagram with colleagues, as illustrated by the example of a humorous Reel featuring a state senator.
The issue was initially attributed to Meta’s end, with Slack providing a technical explanation that suggested the problem lay with Instagram’s integration. After a week of inquiries, Meta confirmed that they had resolved the unfurling issue for Threads and were actively working on fixing it for Instagram. The news was met with enthusiasm from users who had long awaited this functionality, as it enhances the collaborative experience on Slack by allowing for richer content sharing. The article humorously reflects on the author’s own engagement with Slack, noting their prolific posting habits while also acknowledging the need to balance work with leisure activities.
This development serves as a reminder of the importance of user feedback in tech improvements. The author encourages readers to voice their concerns, no matter how minor they may seem, as persistence can lead to positive changes. With Instagram links now set to unfurl in Slack, users can look forward to a more seamless experience when sharing content, making workplace communication just a bit more enjoyable.
Slack has one quirk with Instagram links.
Matthias Balk/picture alliance via Getty Images
We fixed it for you! Now, your Instagram posts will “unfurl” in Slack.
I wrote about the problem earlier this week. Slack told me it was a Meta issue, not a Slack issue.
Now, Meta tells me it’s working to fix the issue. Our long nightmare is coming to an end!
To my fellow deskworkers with fake laptop jobs: Our national nightmare is over! After I complained earlier this week about how Instagram links don’t “unfurl” in Slack, Meta has made a fix to solve the problem!
I wouldn’t ever actually admit to enjoying the workplace chat app
Slack
(that would be horrifically uncool). But the data speaks for itself.
In 2024, I was Business Insider’s second most prolific Slack poster, which is incredibly embarrassing and not a compliment at all.
Look, I love chatting! I love sharing links and musings with my colleagues! Fire me! (To my editor reading this: Please don’t, I promise I’ll get back to work.)
But despite this, there’s one was one thing that stymied me over and over — and I know I wasn’t the only one out there who was plagued by this problem.
Until Friday, when you posted an
Instagram
or Threads link into Slack, it wouldn’t “unfurl” with a preview. Basically, it looked like this:
This was an amusing Reel of a state senator doing the “67” hand motions, but too bad it won’t show.
Business Insider / sadness
If you’re unfamiliar with Slack (or don’t paste social media links into Slack because you use it like a responsible professional), the thing is that posts from X, LinkedIn, Reddit, and even BlueSky have actually always worked!
For example, an X post — which does unfurl — looks like this:
An X post does work in Slack.
Business Insider
What’s frustrating is that Instagram had
used
to work on Slack. I remember those glory days! It was probably only two or so years ago — my guess here — that it stopped working.
So why was this happening? If X and Bluesky could do it, why couldn’t Instagram and Threads?
Earlier this week, I asked both Slack and Meta about why this had been happening. Slack responded to me with a pretty technical explanation that suggested the ball was in Meta’s court to make a fix. When I first published this story on Thursday afternoon, Meta hadn’t responded to Business Insider.
But to my extreme joy, on Friday morning, a PR person from Meta updated me that Meta had indeed fixed the Threads issue and was working on a fix for the Instagram unfurls. When I checked, indeed, Threads now works! I eagerly await Instagram unfurling, because I have so many annoying memes I need to send to my coworkers over Slack.
What’s the lesson here?
Well, for one, I should probably spend less time goofing off on Slack and get back to real work. But the truth is that Instagram and Slack are both things that I enjoy looking at (I also have a group chat with friends on Slack, which is “fun” instead of “work”), and the fact that these two services weren’t seamlessly connecting was a point of minor frustration, especially since it seemed something that must have been a doable technical fix.
The real lesson I’m taking away is that occasionally, being an extremely squeaky wheel and whining a lot about a very minor issue gets results. Continue squeaking!
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Business Insider
