Instagram is one of the most popular social media applications in the world. I open it at least once a day and interestingly enough, it’s not because of the content that organically pops up on my feed, but because of the group chats that I’m a part of. I don’t think I’m alone in that either.
DMs are a very important part of the IG experience and it explains why Instagram has just chosen to add a few upgrades to that section of the app. Three new features are being added to make your DMs a little more fun and convenient. Let’s talk about them.
Instagram Now Gives You The Ability To Give Your Friends Nicknames
In an app like WhatsApp, you have the power to choose what your friends’ names are stored as on your phone, and that translates to group chats. You always have the power to choose what their names are displayed as, which is nice if you have specific nicknames for them. Most apps don’t let you do this though.
To make your DMs more fun, especially those group chats with the boys or the girls, you can now set a nickname for your DMs. This is perfect if you want to present yourself as Bruce Wayne to the public, but The Batman to your friends in private messages. Each set of DMs can have different nicknames too.
You can also set nicknames for others too, but don’t worry. If you don’t like giving people that power, you can change who has the ability to update your nickname in a chat. By default, only people you follow can.
Over 300 New Stickers Come To Instagram DMs
I’m not a sticker person (call me old), but I know a whole lot of people who are. Well, very good news for that entire crowd. Instagram is now adding 17 new sticker packs that you can use in your DM conversations, which adds over 300 new stickers to the mix.
Even better is that if you’re a sticker aficionado and your friends are too, you can now even favorite stickers that your friends post in chats, so you can add those to your arsenal and start using them too.
You’re Now Able To Share Your Location With Friends On Instagram
Instagram is just as good a spot to talk with friends about anything. If it is your app of choice for chatting, you might find yourself in situations where you’re planning activities with friends—concerts, carnivals, and other gatherings— or you’re on your way to visit someone. In moments like that, letting people know exactly where you are can make coordinating movements so much easier.
IG now lets you share your live location with friends for up to an hour. You can also share a pinned location to make it easier for others to navigate to a specific location. And don’t worry, you can only do this in DMs and your location can’t be forwarded to other DMs, so your privacy always remains the priority. This feature is currently only available in some countries.
