Instagram rolls out creative features to help you strengthen your friendships

Instagram's new direct messaging features are transforming the way you connect with your friends. Photo: Pixabay

Instagram's new direct messaging features are transforming the way you connect with your friends. Photo: Pixabay

Published 15h ago

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Instagram has dropped fun Instagram DM features to help you connect with your friends and make your friendships stronger.

The social media platform said that people can use the new Instagram DM features to make their friends smile by expressing themselves in a unique way.

Connecting

Sharing or resharing a hilarious meme or a random video can be done directly or in a group chat. These exchanges can deepen your connection and it also reminder that you are too far away from your friends.

Use stickers to express yourself

You can create new and different AI stickers to bring fun to any conversation. Making something totally unique for you and your friend group by turning your own photos and videos into custom, personalised stickers with Cutouts.

Pro tip: You can ensure that you favourite stickers are easily accessible by pressing and holding on the sticker, then selecting “Favorite” at the bottom of your screen to keep at the top of your sticker tray.

Photos or videos that can only be viewed once

Not every photo or video is meant to stick around. Maybe you have a planned surprise for your friends that you do not want anyone else to see, or perhaps there is a casual snap of your outfit.

Tap on “View once” and watch your photos and videos disappear after they have been opened.

Pro tip: You can use filters, add text/drawings/stickers on videos or images to give photos a personal touch.

Match your mood

Your vibe can change day to day, and so should your theme. You can choose from different themes that range from music and movies to food and sports.

Pro tip: To change the chat theme, press and hold the background and select one from the available options.

Pin your favourite chats

Instead of scrolling through endless chats to find your favourites, you can pin up to three groups or one-on-one chats to the top of your inbox for faster access.

Edit or delete your Instagram DM

You can now edit a message up to 15 minutes after sending it or completely unsending the message.

To unsend or edit on an Instagram DM:

– Press and hold on to the sent message

– Choose “Edit” or “Unsend” from the drop-down menu.

– Take control and toggle

Receipts

Receipts lets the person you have been chatting with know that you have read their message. Now, you can turn read receipts on or off for all your chats or specific ones.

Start a poll

Polls are a fun way to get the opinions of your friends on various topics in or help you and your friend group decide a hangout spot for the weekend.

Here’s how you can start a poll

– Tap a group name from your Chats list to open the conversation

– Tap stickers, then tap Poll

– Enter your questions and answers

– Create the Poll

IOL Technology