Instagram's 'Latest Posts' prototype brings back beloved chronological timeline

Instagram is internally testing a feature that would bring back its chronological timeline.

The photo-sharing app's "Latest Posts" tool was recently spotted by developer Jane Manchun Wong who reverse-engineers apps. In screenshots Wong posted to Twitter, the option to view content chronologically seems to pop up over the main feed after the app is first opened.

Tapping "get caught up" would take users to a new zone within the app that spotlights the latest photos and video posts from their network. Tapping "not now" would seemingly take users to the standard algorithm-based timeline.

Alexandru Voica, who works for Instagram's communications team, tweeted that the feature was the result of a Facebook hackathon, where engineers and coders create prototypes.

"It is not available to anyone publicly, and we have no plans to test or launch it at this time," Voica tweeted.

Instagram previously rolled out a display message that says "You're All Caught Up" after users viewed all the content posted within the previous 48 hours. In 2016, the app caused a stir after it drastically altered the algorithm that determines how content is displayed on your timeline.

Currently, posts are displayed based on your interactions with specific other users, the timing, the post and other factors.