Instagram’s rolling out a range of DM updates in order to build on messaging engagement, which has now become the primary way that users connect within the app.
Indeed, just last month, Instagram chief Adam Mosseri said that the platform would be doubling down on messaging in 2025, which it’s following through on with its first major feature roll-out of the year.
First off, Instagram’s adding the capability to translate DMs in-stream, so you can easily connect with users who speak another language.
The translations are powered by Meta’s improving translation processes, which should deliver increasingly accurate translations in 99 different languages.
It could be a big boost for cross-border connection, while also potentially opening up new opportunities for businesses in the app.
Instagram will also now enable you to schedule your DMs, providing an extra level of automation.
Though I can’t imagine there would be a heap of instances where a regular user would want to schedule a message.
But then again:
There is a range of ways this could be used, ethical or not, while again, for business users, the capacity to schedule messages could also facilitate new connective capacity (within Meta’s business messaging limits). Instagram’s been testing the option with selected users over the past few months, so it won’t be entirely new to everybody.
Instagram says that messages can now be scheduled up to 29 days in advance.
Instagram’s also giving users the option to pin messages in a chat.
“Now you can pin up to 3 messages to the top of your 1:1 and group chats to make it even easier to coordinate, connect with your friends, or revisit that one meme that makes you LOL every time.”
I doubt this will be super useful, but it adds another element to consider, which could help to guide the conversation.
Instagram’s also giving users more ways to share music in the app, with a music sharing sticker in DMs.
Instagram’s been steadily incorporating more music elements, potentially as a means to replace TikTok, if it does get banned in the U.S., and this provides another means to share and interact around music in the app.
Finally, Instagram’ also adding a new option to invite people to a group chat via dedicated group QR codes.
As you can see in this example, each group chat will now have a custom QR code, which will enable you to easily link new members through to the discussion.
These are some potentially interesting updates, which will expand on IG’s broader DM focus, and help to drive more engagement in the app. In the scheme of things, they’re relatively minor, more like tweaks to DM sharing, but they could facilitate expanded interaction, and drive more community sharing in-stream.
You can read more about Instagram’s latest DM updates here.
