Instagram Copies Snapchat Stories

Instagram has launched its own “Stories” feature, a near-perfect copy of the “Snapchat Stories” feature, which is a feed of disappearing content that is available for only 24 hours from the time of posting, reports The Verge. The feature should encourage users to post more frequently and more candidly about their lives.

Snapchat Explores Scannable Ads

Snapchat is working on a new type of digital advertisement that would allow people to use their smartphone cameras to unlock special sponsored content within the app, reports The Information. The ad format is in development and it’s expected to roll out this fall, but it’s also possible the product gets delayed or shelved entirely.

Snapchat Signs NFL Discover Deal

The National Football League and Snapchat have signed a multiyear deal for a league-branded Discover channel and Live Stories that will be created for every NFL game, reports Variety. Per the deal, NFL teams will have custom geofilters that will allow Snapchat users to submit their snaps to them.

RealD Signs Deal with China’s Wanda Cinema Line

RealD has signed a deal to add at least 4,000 of its screens to Wanda Cinema Line’s multiplexes, reports The Wrap. The deal is being called the largest 3-D installation in the history of the format.

Funny or Die Cuts Impact Nearly A Third of Staff

Comedy website Funny or Die is laying off 37 of its staffers and closing its San Mateo office as it refocuses its resources on creating content, reports The Hollywood Reporter. The cuts did not impact any high level executives and mostly deeply impacted engineers working on app development.

Technology reporter Garrett Reim can be reached at [email protected]. Follow @garrettreim on Twitter for the latest in L.A. tech news.