Instagram Launches Virtual Pets as Part of Meta’s Push Into Digital Companionship

Instagram has introduced a new feature allowing users to “adopt” virtual pets for their Meta avatars, rolling out across both Instagram and Horizon Worlds. According to Social Media Today, the tool invites users to customize digital companions by selecting the type of animal, fur colors, and patterns, before showing them off in selfies or interacting with them in Meta’s VR spaces.

These pets function as ornamental digital add-ons rather than Tamagotchi-style creatures requiring constant care. Once created, they can appear in Instagram Stories or be engaged with inside VR, tapping into the internet’s long-standing fascination with pets. It’s a move reminiscent of Pokémon Go and Snapchat’s experimental virtual pet features, highlighting how social platforms continue to gamify user engagement.

The rise of virtual pets raises questions about the role of technology in replacing—or supplementing—real-world experiences. Critics argue that Meta’s growing ecosystem of digital surrogates risks distancing people from authentic connections with other humans and animals. Instead of fostering relationships with living beings, users may find themselves increasingly tied to avatars and simulations.

At the same time, some see these additions as a harmless form of fun, offering lighthearted customization options for social media and VR spaces. The popularity of animal content online suggests that demand for personalized, shareable creatures could be high.

Still, as society faces urgent issues like Climate change, biodiversity loss, and threats to wildlife, the timing of investing energy into artificial animal companions feels uneasy. Building bonds with digital creatures might keep users glued to apps, but it does little to help protect the environment or improve real-world health.

Perhaps the better choice is to balance technological play with genuine compassion: supporting animal sanctuaries, adopting rescued pets, or choosing plant-based lifestyles that reduce harm to living beings. Digital pets may be entertaining, but real animals—and the planet they depend on—need us far more.

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