IN THIS CHAPTER

Sending and responding to direct messages on Instagram

Sharing photos, videos, and GIFs

Recording and sending a voice message

Messaging with a group

Chatting live with other Instagram users

Managing your inbox and deleting messages

Posting photos and videos to your profile is just one of many ways to share your content. You can also use the Instagram Direct service to send a private message to a single follower or a group of 2 to 32 followers.

This chapter tells you all about how to share a direct message with your friends and fans. Because anyone can follow you (unless your account is private), direct messaging is Instagram’s way of letting you connect with one person or a group of people in a private setting.

In this chapter, we start by showing you how to send a simple text message via Instagram Direct. Then we get more advanced with sending photos, videos, GIFs, music, and voice messages and show you how to reply to the direct messages you receive. Next, you discover how to use the live chat feature within Instagram Direct. Finally, we show you how to navigate (delete and mute) through the messages you’ve sent and received so your inbox doesn’t get overwhelmed with messages.

Starting a New Direct Message

If you want to start your conversation with a text message, Instagram makes it easy for you. Follow these steps:

1. If the Direct screen isn’t open, tap the Instagram Direct icon (it looks like a talking bubble with a squiggle) in the upper-right corner of your home screen (see Figure 6-1).

   This is also where you receive new messages. The number of messages waiting for you is shown in a red circle on top of the Direct icon. Your new messages are revealed when you tap the number.

   

2. Tap the pencil in a square icon as shown in Figure 6-2.

   The New Message screen appears.

   

3. Search for a name in the Search box or scroll in the Suggested list to find the recipients, and then tap their usernames (see Figure 6-3).

   A blue check mark appears to the right of each recipient name after you tap it.

4. On iPhone, tap Chat. On Android, the message box appears at the bottom of the screen after you select one or more recipients.
5. Start typing in the message box at the bottom of the page, and tap Send when you have completed your message (see Figure 6-4).

   

6. Return to the Direct screen by tapping the < icon.

   The message you just sent appears at the top of the list. Each message entry in the list shows you the recipient’s or group’s name, followed by whether the recipient is active now (by showing a green dot on their profile image) or when they were last active.

   View your message on the screen by tapping the message entry.

7. Return to the Instagram home screen by tapping the < icon.

You can unsend a message by holding down on the message. Then tap Unsend (iPhone) or Unsend Message (Android) to unsend it. The message has now been erased from the conversation (but it may have been seen if the contact is quick to read messages!).

You can send messages without notifications to friends if it’s late at night or when they’re working by adding “@silent” in your message.

Sharing Photos and Videos via Direct Message

If sending a text message is too boring for you, you can take a photo or video (or use one from your camera roll) and send it to the other person. You can even customize the photo with text, filters, GIFs, and more.

1. In the main Direct screen, tap the Camera icon to the right of the recipient as shown in Figure 6-5.

   If you need to get to the Direct screen, first tap the Direct icon from the Instagram home screen or window.

   

2. Take a photo by tapping the shutter button (as shown in Figure 6-6) or hold the white button down to film a video. Alternatively, you can choose a photo or video from your camera roll by tapping the small square at the lower left of the camera screen and choosing the photo/video by tapping it.

   The switch cameras icon appears to the bottom right of the shutter button so you can switch between the front and rear cameras, if necessary. If you’re unhappy with what you shot, tap the X to delete the photo or video and try again.

   

3. If you want to layer text on top of your photo or video, tap on the text (Aa) icon once you’ve chosen your photo (otherwise you’ll be sent to the Create screen). Type your message (as shown in Figure 6-7), and then tap Done.

   Photos and videos here have all the same custom capabilities as they do in Instagram stories. For more information about how to add filters, GIFs, polls and more, refer to Chapter 8.

4. After any customizing is complete, you can decide how you want the photo to be viewed by tapping Allow Replay, View Once, or Keep in Chat.

   View Once allows one view and then the photo or video disappears. Allow Replay allows one view and one replay, then the photo or video disappears. Keep in Chat keeps the photo or video in the message thread indefinitely.

   

5. Tap Send at the lower right.

   The photo is sent right away to the contact you chose.

   You can search for a recipient by tapping the Search box above the list and typing your search terms. As you type, the usernames that most closely match your terms appear in the results list. When you find the name of the recipient you’re looking for, tap their name in the list.

Direct messages are private, and Instagram means it — you can’t do several things with a direct message that you can do with a public message:

• You can’t share photos or videos sent with Instagram Direct to other social networking websites.
• Any hashtags or locations you add to your private message aren’t searchable in Instagram.
• Your messages won’t appear in the feed screen or in your profile.

If you want to send a photo or video you took previously, you can choose one from your camera roll by tapping the small square at the lower left of the camera screen and choosing the photo/video by tapping it, as shown in Figure 6-8. You can also choose multiple photos/videos at once by tapping Select, tapping each thumbnail you want, and tapping the arrow at the bottom of the screen.

Sharing GIFs

Sometimes all you need to communicate a message is a fun GIF. Instagram imports hundreds of available GIFs via Giphy for you to use in Instagram Direct.

To send a GIF in a message, follow these steps:

1. Tap or click the Instagram Direct icon.
2. Type in the Search feature (or scroll through your recent messages list) to locate the contact you want and tap their name then tap Chat to reveal the message screen.

3. Tap the black + button located in the right corner of the Message bar at the bottom of the screen as shown in Figure 6-9.

   A Stickers button with a smiley face then appears.

4. Tap the button to see suggested GIFs, as shown in Figure 6-10.

   You can also use the Search Giphy bar to search for specific GIFs.

   

   

5. Tap the GIF you like best.

   It automatically sends the GIF, so be careful what you tap!

Using Voice Messages

Tired of typing, or have a lot to say, and prefer to leave a quick voice message? Instagram has a solution for that!

To send a voice message, follow these steps:

1. Tap or click the Instagram Direct icon.
2. Type in the Search feature (or scroll through your recent messages list) to locate the contact you want and tap their name to reveal the message screen.

3. Press and hold the microphone icon located in the right corner of the Message bar (as shown in Figure 6-11) while recording a message of up to one minute.

   When recording a voice message by tapping and holding, the message will automatically send when you release the microphone button. You can also tap the microphone, speak, then tap the arrow to send it. If you want to delete the message and rerecord it, tap the trash can on the left before sending it; then hold down the microphone again to rerecord.

Creating a New Group Message

If you’d like to send a private message to two or more people at once, you can create a group conversation. Use the following steps to create a new group conversation:

1. Tap the Instagram Direct icon.
2. Tap the pencil icon at the upper right of the screen.

3. Type names in the Search feature (or scroll through the Suggested list) to locate the contacts you want and tap the circle to the right of their names.

   The names appear in blue at the top of the screen and can be deleted by tapping their (now blue) names in the To field. Once the name turns red, tap it again to fully remove it from the group conversation.

4. Tap Chat.

   The next screen appears and allows you to enter a name for the group.

5. Enter the name of the group, as shown in Figure 6-12.

   This group is saved after you name it. You can send other messages to the same group later by looking for it in the Search box or scrolling through your sent messages.

   You can rename your group later by tapping the group name and entering a new name. The members of the group are able to see this name, so choose wisely!

6. Type a message, take a photo or video, or send a GIF or a voice message to the group.

   Instructions for sending each of these message types are outlined earlier in the chapter and are the same for single and group messages.

If you need to include more group members later, there’s an easy way to do that. Simply tap the group name, tap Add People, search and select the contacts you’d like to add, and tap Next (iPhone) or Done (Android). The new group members are now added to your thread and can see the entire previous conversation except for any disappearing photos or videos.

Replying to a Direct Message

If you’ve had a previous conversation with one or more recipients, you can tap the individual or group name in the Direct screen to view your past conversation(s) and write a new message to start a new conversation. The Message screen appears, and you see all the text, photos, and videos you sent previously to that recipient or that group.

Swipe or scroll to view your entire conversation. You can also type a new message, as described earlier in this chapter.

If you’re already having a private message conversation in Instagram Direct, you can respond by sending a photo to one or more of your follower as described earlier in the “Sharing Photos and Videos via Direct Message.”

Using Live Chat in Direct Messages

Sometimes it’s nice to carry on a conversation face-to-face, even if it’s not in person. You can now live chat with up to six people using Instagram Direct.

To use video chat on Instagram:

1. Tap the Instagram Direct icon.
2. Type in the Search feature (or scroll through your recent messages list) to locate the contact or group you want and tap their name to reveal the message screen.

3. Tap the movie camera icon at the top right of the screen, as shown in Figure 6-13.

   

   The contact or group is notified that you’re requesting a live chat and can choose to answer or dismiss the call as shown in Figure 6-14.

Anyone you’ve direct messaged with previously can request a live chat. If you don’t want them to have this capability, on iPhone you can Mute Video Chat by scrolling to their name, swiping left, and then tapping More; then tap Mute, then Mute Video Chat. On Android, you hold down on the person’s name and choose Mute Video Chats from the pop-up list of options.

If you’ve already started a chat with one or more people, you can add more people (up to six people total on the chat) to an ongoing conversation.

To add more people to your video chat, follow these steps:

1. While still in your video chat, simply swipe up to add another contact.

   Your list of recently messaged contacts is shown. You can use Search to find other contacts.

2. When you’ve located your contact, tap Add next to their user name.

   The contact receives a notification that you’d like to video chat, and they can pick up the chat, ignore it, or choose to decline it.

Quick Sharing Content with Friends

See something interesting in your feed that you’d like to share with a friend? You can now quickly share the post with a friend by doing the following:

1. Tap and hold the paper airplane arrow below the content in your feed that you’d like to share (see Figure 6-15).
2. Slide up on the profile icon of the person you’d like to send the content to.

That piece of content shoots off right away to the recipient, so watch your fingers!

Navigating Your Inbox

If you’ve been following the instructions within this chapter, you likely have several message threads piling up in your Instagram Direct inbox that you need to manage. You may have even discovered some contacts you’d rather not hear from anymore.

New messages are indicated by a red circle with the number of messages on top of the Direct icon located at the top of your home screen, as shown in Figure 6-16. By tapping the Direct icon, you are taken to the Messages screen where you can tap on the new message to view it.

When you’re done viewing the message, you have choices to make:

• Let it sit in your inbox indefinitely.
• Reply to the message with text, a photo, a video, a GIF, or a heart (as described earlier).
• Delete the message. On an iPhone, swipe left and tap Delete. On Android, hold down over the account name and choose Delete from the pop-up menu. (See Figure 6-17.)
• Mute the conversation so they can no longer contact you on Instagram Direct. Swipe left and tap More; then tap Mute. (See Figure 6-18.)
• Flag the message to remember to view it later. On iPhones, swipe left, tap More, and tap Flag. On Android, tap and hold on the message and select Flag from the pop-up menu.

  

• Mark the message as Unread so it’s highlighted in bold again. On iPhones, swipe left and tap Unread. On Android, tap and hold on the message and select “Mark as Unread” from the pop-up menu.

That’s really all there is to it! The Instagram Direct inbox is fairly simple to navigate with limited options for handling your messages after viewing them.

Instagram Direct’s message search capabilities are slim. At this point, you can only search for messages based on the contact or group’s name. Unlike an email inbox, you can’t filter a search by subject, keywords, or date.

To search for a conversation by username or group name, follow these steps:

1. Tap the Instagram Direct icon.

2. Type in the Search feature (or scroll through your recent messages list) to locate the contact or group you want and tap their name.

   Once the name is tapped, you see your previous conversation and can choose to reply if you’d like.

Getting Rid of Unwanted Messages

Instagram is a huge platform with millions of users. This can result in messages from a variety of sources, and there’s a good chance you’ll receive a message from someone that you’d rather not hear from.

If the user isn’t someone you’re following or you’ve messaged previously, Instagram funnels them into a different section. You see their initial request to speak with you with a blue Requests link that indicates the number of requests waiting. When you tap that blue link, a new page appears, revealing the usernames of the people who would like to contact you. You now have choices to make (as shown in Figure 6-19):

• Swipe left and tap Accept to allow communication between you, Block to deny any further contact, or Delete to delete the message.
• If several messages are waiting from users you don’t want to communicate with, Instagram makes it easy with a Delete all link at the bottom. Tap that link to decline any future messages from those usernames.

You may have started a conversation with someone only to find out later that they’re sending inappropriate messages. If you feel they should be reported for their actions, it’s simple to do. To report an inappropriate message, follow these steps:

1. Inside the conversation thread, tap and hold the individual comment that was inappropriate.

   A Report button appears at the bottom of the page.

2. Tap the Report button and follow the instructions.

   The message and username is sent to Instagram and the user is reported. The user is not notified that you’re the person who reported them.