Instagram has released five new features for the direct messages (DMs) function. Starting this Monday (4), users of the social network can use the following new features: edit messages, pin conversations, conversation topic, save sticker and disable read receipt. These features were already released for a portion of accounts, but now they arrive for all Instagram participants.
These new tools will make Instagram more conversation-friendly and indirectly turn it into a competitor to Meta’s WhatsApp. As with the messenger app, users of the social network can pin up to three conversations to the top of DMs (this number could be increased to five on WhatsApp, right, Meta?). To pin a chat, you can hold a conversation and click “Pin.”
New features for DMs on Instagram
The feature to edit messages on Instagram can be used up to 15 minutes after they are sent. And do you know who Meta copied and pasted this feature from? From WhatsApp. Last year, the messaging app was given this option to edit messages and the same deadline to perform the edit. Even though it’s a copy, the feature is welcome (every app should have this for free).
Another good news is that Instagram will allow users to disable read receipts. This will please those who don’t like to show that they’ve read a message — or are in the habit of reading it and leaving it to reply later. To disable read receipts, you must go to the settings, click on “Messages and replies to the story” and then open the “read receipts” menu.
Instagram has also released new backgrounds for conversations and the option to save favorite stickers. To favorite a sticker, the user needs to click and hold on the sticker. In the menu that opens, just click on “Add to favorites”.
