How Instagram's Latest Update Makes Sliding in DMs Easier Than Ever

Instagram just launched some long overdue tweaks to its DM feature.

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The battle between Snapchat and (Facebook-owned) Instagram rages on. On Tuesday, Instagram announced a much-needed overhaul of its increasingly popular Instagram Direct feature. Following the update's announcement, CNBC reported, Snap shares sank by 2 percent intraday Tuesday.

Prior to Tuesday's update, Instagram's DM function was a bit of a hassle for anyone trying to be private on the go. Ephemeral messages were previously housed in a separate of the Direct interface, while permanent messages were stacked at the bottom. Annoying. But those days are over, as this revamped version of Direct has both consolidated the function's presence within the app and expanded its user-friendly features.

All your DM discussions are now found in one place

Simple texts, public photos you share from other accounts, disappearing photos, and videos will now appear in a single conversation thread. With Instagram's (long overdue!) combination of disappearing and permanent direct messages into single threads, the feature definitely feels smoother and should help skeptical Snapchat devotees feel more comfortable taking the Instagram plunge.

Instagram

No more ugly bubbles featuring your friends' faces

When Instagram first launched disappearing messages last November, they were separated using ugly, Stories-esque bubbles of your friends' faces. Now that everything exists in single threads, the bubbles are gone for good from Direct. Stories, however, will continue to utilize them.

There's a new blue camera icon

To access the new Direct, simply swipe left from the app’s main page. At the bottom, you should see the new blue camera icon. To take a disappearing pic or video clip, tap the blue camera at the bottom of the page or in any existing thread.

Instagram

Blue is now apparently the official color of disappearing messages in general

When someone sends you a new disappearing message, they'll be highlighted blue in your inbox. A quick tap allows you to view them and replay them once. Generally speaking, the latest Instagram overhaul makes sliding into a person's DMs easier. Just keep basic etiquette (no one wants your unsolicited nudes!) in mind.

Unlike Snapchat, DM conversationalists on Instagram are alerted to each other's actions

Senders definitely receive a notification when you replay or screenshot a disappearing message. As spotted byMashable, all involved parties in a DM conversation—unlike on Snapchat—will be displayed a running list of actions taking place in the thread. For example, a photo that has already disappeared will still prompt a "sent" display in the thread. 

Alongside their DM update announcement Tuesday, Instagram also bragged about how many millions of people are using Direct these days. "Since our last update in November 2016, the number of people using Direct has grown from 300 million to 375 million," an Instagram rep said in a news release. "We want to make Direct the best place to have fun, visual conversations with your friends." Additional Instagram Direct updates are currently in development, because the full Snapchatification of the entire planet is now unstoppable.

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