Instagram Launches Several New Direct Message Features To Simplify Messaging

A number of new features that Instagram has added to its Direct Messaging (DM) section are expected to enhance private discussions and personalize the user experience. The ability to modify messages, chat pinning, read receipt controls, and other capabilities are among the new Instagram direct message features. New gesture-based controls for Threads, Meta’s newest social media platform, have also been added. Remarkably, the new functionalities come just a few days after Instagram updated its iOS lock screen widget, which enables users to take fast photos or record videos for Stories.

The social networking site revealed the new features in a blog post, emphasizing that private messaging is still one of the primary ways users communicate on a regular basis and that the additional features are meant to enhance the user experience as a whole. Editing messages is one of the most prominent functions. Instagram users will have the same 15-minute window after sending a message to change it, just like on WhatsApp, another Meta-owned site. Users can amend a message by holding down the sent message and choosing amend from the drop-down menu that appears. Another change is the way that chats are pinned to the top of the inbox. For convenience, users may now pin up to three chats, either group or private. Just swipe left on a chat or press and hold on a chat in the inbox screen to choose the pin option to mark it as read. Users’ privacy on the site will increase with this update, which gives them finally more control over read receipts. It is now possible for users to disable reading receipts for all chats or just a few chosen ones. This is an easy process. Navigate to Account Settings > Messages and story replies > Show read receipts; flip it on or off to disable it for all chats.

Users who wish to disable read receipts for individual chats must navigate to that particular chat. After that, touch on their name and choose safety and privacy. Locate and toggle off the Read receipts option from the list. On both iOS and Android, the controls function in the same way. A feature that allows users to store their favorite stickers and have them appear at the top of the sticker screen has also been implemented by Instagram. Users only need to press and hold their selected sticker to accomplish this, and it will be instantly saved. In addition, three new themes have been added: Avatar: The Last Airbender, Love, and Lollipop.