INSTA-CASH

Instagram now lets anyone raise money for charities using Live streaming or Stories

INSTAGRAM users can now raise money for their favourite charities by adding donation buttons to their live streams.

Users can fundraise for a nonprofit of their choosing n Instagram Live by including a new button added to the app yesterday.

The feature was already available on Stories - Instagram's ephemeral posts that vanish after 24 hours - but had not been launched on Live.

"People have stepped up in amazing ways to support the causes they care about during Covid-19," Instagram said in a statement.

"Instagram is making this even easier with 'Donations on Instagram Live'."

Live Donations rolled out worldwide on Tuesday with pop mega-star Liam Payne one of the first to take part.

The ex-One Direction singer raised almost £1,000 for UK food bank charity The Trussell Trust.

YouTuber Carrie Hope Fletcher also went Live for a Disney sing-along and raised over £2,500 for NHS Charities Together.

The new Live Donations feature lets anyone create fundraisers while live streaming, either alone or as a group.

To create a donation button in Live, simply set a Live as "fundraiser" before starting your broadcast.

Pick a non-profit you want followers to donate to and the app will show you who is supporting and how much you've raised.

To donate during someone else's live stream, look out for the option at the bottom of a Live.

Tap “donate” to begin and select how much you want to chip in.

When you’re done, you’ll even unlock a new “I Donated” sticker which can be shared on your Stories.

Live Donation is one of several new features launched by Instagram in recent weeks.

Users can now order food through the app, for instance, to help struggling small businesses.

Many restaurants, pubs and hotels around the world have been forced to close but delivery services still continue.

Instagram said in a statement: "You can set up food orders on Instagram to give people a way to support your business.

"When someone taps the Order Foodbutton on your Instagram profile or the Food Orders sticker in your Instagram story.

"They’ll be directed to your partner’s website to order food delivery or take-out from your business."

If you want to create a donation in Live, select a Live as “fundraiser” before starting your broadcast
Choose a non-profit you want followers to donate to
You’ll then be able to see who is supporting it and the money raised, in real time
If you want to donate, look out for the option pinned to the bottom of a Live
Tap “donate” to begin and when you’re done, you’ll also unlock the “I Donated” sticker which can be shared on your Stories

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