Instagram announced in March 2022 that they will introduce new messaging features.
One eagerly awaited feature is the the ability to reply to a new Direct Message (DM) without leaving the home feed. So now you’ll be able to see what friends are doing without missing your Tinder fling’s latest message ;)
But that’s not it.
Quickly sharing posts with friends and checking out who's online will also be part of the new features coming soon to your phone.
We know Reels was a big focus last year as TikTok threatened Instagram’s favorite App status on the global scene in 2021.
Remember Snapchat? Stories were introduced back then to defend Instagram’s reign.
And where is Snapchat now?
TikTok is another beast, however. Reels has not managed to displace or put a dent on the TikTok growth party. TikTok had 1.2 billion monthly active users in Q4 2021 and is expected to reach 1.5 billion by the end of 2022.
So Meta is hot on making Instagram more relevant than ever.
And the time is now!
Instagram’s new wave of features follows Meta's pledge to focus on messaging (as well as Reels) late last year.
A press release by Instagram stated that new DM capabilities are part of the company's "ongoing work to improve how you connect and share with your closest friends."
So communicating on the app is becoming even easier. In short, Instagram will be hosting the social media party on DMs!
From polls to immersive content sharing, it's all going down in the DMs.
At the marketing agency where I work we have identified a full rundown of every new feature they have announced:
Reply while you browse: Quickly reply to a message without having to leave the Instagram Home feed.
Quickly send to friends: Re-share content without navigating away from the Instagram Home feed by tapping and holding the share button.
See who’s online: See who’s free to chat at the top of your inbox list.
Share a song: Share a 30-second preview of a song via integrations with Apple Music, Amazon Music, and Spotify.
Send messages quietly: Send messages without notifying friends by adding “@silent” in your message.
Switch theme: Try out the new chat themes.
Create a poll in group messages: Create a poll directly in a group chat to survey your friends. Imagine how influencers will be able to use this to provide insights about their followers!!
These features are currently being rolled out in different markets. However, Meta’s goal will be to roll out globally in the coming weeks and months.
If you don't have access yet, sit tight. Because the DM revolution will not be televised.