Instagram Rolls Out New Direct Message Tools, Including Remix and Replay Controls
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Loading... - Patrick Phelps
- 29 Nov 2020
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After announcing their direct message photo remix tools back in August, Instagram has confirmed that the new option is now being rolled out to all users.
As explained by Instagram:
“When viewing a photo message from a friend, tap the camera icon at the bottom and capture a reply. Your reply includes a sticker of what you’re replying to. Move and resize it, and add your own twist with stickers, text and drawings. You can remix photos back and forth for a fun visual of your conversation.”
In addition, users will also have the ability to send a split-screen reply with the sent image by tapping on the sticker.
Instagram has also announced a new function, which relates to another of their Snapchat-like tools in DMs.
“Additionally, you can now also control replays. Choose “One View” for messages you want your friends to only see once. For everything else, choose “Allow Replay” so your friends have more time to view your messages. Photos and videos sent with “Allow Replay” loop automatically and your friends can tap and hold to pause.”
After adding more Snapchat-style, ephemeral messaging features to the app, Instagram has been gradually dialing them back – Instagram also launched disappearing DMs last November, with their own dedicated inbox, but then merged them into the regular inbox with other messages earlier this year.
That’s not to say Instagram users don’t want privacy, nor that these features will go away entirely, but the platform’s been working to provide a broader range of posting options and experiences, as opposed to singularly focusing on one particular use-case.
On DMs specifically, Instagram’s seen a significant rise in interest of late, with more than 375 million people now using Instagram DMs each month. Catering to this, Instagram also recently added the capacity to share Stories via DM, while they added the capability to add links in DMs back in May, which is a huge benefit, considering you can't add links to individual posts.
These latest options are nothing evolutionary, but they add another interesting consideration to the Insta DM process, and could help further increase the popularity of the option.
The new tools are available as part of Instagram version 24 for Android and iOS.
