Instagram Adds Virtual Pets for Instagram and Horizon Worlds
Instagram is quietly rolling out a whimsical new feature: virtual pets that live alongside your Meta avatar. These digital companions can show up in your Instagram content and make the jump into Horizon Worlds in VR, blurring the line between selfie culture and social simulation.
What’s launching
Some users are beginning to see a prompt inviting them to add a companion to their avatar. The setup flow lets you build a pet from the ground up: pick the species, choose colors, tweak markings or fur patterns, and finalize a look that fits your vibe. Once created, your companion can be posed for photos on Instagram—ideal for Stories—or accompanied into Horizon Worlds for more playful interactions.
How it works
- Create: Select an animal type and customize its appearance with colors and patterns.
- Showtime: Place your pet in-frame for Instagram photos or Stories to share with friends.
- Step into VR: Bring the same companion into Horizon Worlds, where it becomes part of your immersive avatar experience.
If you’ve ever enjoyed AR creatures or virtual companions in mobile apps, you’ll feel right at home. The difference here is how seamlessly the pet spans both 2D social feeds and 3D social spaces.
Decorative companion, not a digital chore
Earlier concepts of digital pets on social platforms sometimes leaned into the “virtual caretaker” idea—feed them, clean up after them, keep them entertained. This version appears to be lighter-touch: more mascot than responsibility. That makes it easy to jump in for a quick selfie or a VR hangout without worrying about daily maintenance.
Why it matters
Avatars are becoming a central identity layer across apps, and accessories—pets included—are the next step in personal expression. A companion adds personality to your presence whether you’re posting a Story or hosting a meet-up in VR. It’s also a smart engagement loop: the more expressive tools you have, the more reasons you have to create and share content.
There’s a broader strategic angle too. By letting the same pet travel from Instagram to Horizon Worlds, Meta is nudging users to think of its ecosystem as one connected stage rather than separate apps. That kind of continuity is exactly what keeps people returning, experimenting, and socializing across formats.
A note of caution
Digital companionship is fun—until it isn’t. As virtual pets become more present in our social feeds and VR hangouts, it’s worth asking how much emotional weight we place on them. For most people this will be an entertaining add-on, a playful prop for selfies and streams. But it’s also part of a larger shift in which social experiences can be built around entities that don’t exist outside the screen or headset. The long-term effects—good or bad—are still an open question.
Who it’s for
- Creators who want a recognizable “co-star” for Reels and Stories.
- VR socializers who prefer a consistent identity from feed to headset.
- Casual users who want a no-maintenance companion that livens up posts without becoming a chore.
Getting started
Availability is rolling out to selected users first, with more regions and accounts expected to follow. If you see the prompt to add a companion to your avatar, dive into the customization flow and start experimenting with photos in Instagram. If you already spend time in Horizon Worlds, bring your new buddy along and see how it fits into your usual hangouts.
Bottom line
Instagram’s virtual pets are a playful bridge between your social feed and your VR identity: low-pressure to use, easy to personalize, and designed to keep your avatar feeling uniquely yours. Whether they become your signature sidekick or just a fun extra in your selfie toolkit, they’re another sign that social platforms are betting big on expressive, avatar-driven worlds.
