Instagram is focusing more on its DMs in a bid to become a more rounded messaging platform. This includes adding new features to the DMs periodically. Over the past few months, the Meta-owned platform has added features like the ability to edit sent messages, pin chats, etc., and the latest round involves the ability to edit photos and create stickers.
Now, before sharing a photo in an Instagram DM, you can edit it or add stickers to it, just like you can with Instagram stories. You will also be able to create custom stickers from existing photos in the chat interface in the Instagram app. Creating sticker cutouts from photos has become a popular feature, with WhatsApp introducing the ability earlier this year. Apple added the same feature to iPhones with iOS 17 as well.
The new features aren't anything groundbreaking. They're simply geared towards making Instagram DMs a more rounded messaging service so users reach for it more when compared to competitors. Previously, if you wanted to send a photo in Instagram DMs after applying edits to it, there was no way to do so directly within the chat interface. You had to apply the edits elsewhere, save the photo, and then send it as a message. And no one has the bandwidth to go through the extra steps in this day and age. The new update fixes that.
Other updates to the platform include a new birthday note that users can post in notes in the Instagram DMs. The birthday note will appear in your friends' DMs so they'll be able to wish you. They'll also see a cake effect and confetti on their screens when they tap on the note.
Instagram is also introducing new themes for DMs but that's hardly any news. The platform keeps adding new themes and removing existing ones to go with the zeitgeist. The current ones include "Fall" and "Sabrina Carpenter" themes.
If your Instagram communication involves more than sending and receiving reels on the platform, you'll definitely like these new additions.
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