directmessages
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Facebook is reportedly working on cross-platform business messaging
Facebook is reportedly working on pulling Instagram direct messages into businesses' Facebook page inboxes. That would allow businesses to handle messages from both platforms in the Pages Manager app on mobile and the web, according to Axios. For now, the only private conversations page managers can address within the app are from Messenger.
Instagram plans to give influencers DM filters and follower stats
Instagram is testing a new type of account for high-profile users (such as celebrities, artists and influencers) that should give them more control over how they use the platform. The so-called "creator accounts" give users direct message filters and stats on their followers.
Twitter bug sent some DMs to developers for over a year
A bug in one of Twitter's APIs may have caused unauthorized developers to receive some users' direct messages and protected tweets. Twitter says it hasn't yet discovered evidence that a developer actually received such data, nor does it believe that such information was misused, but can't say for sure that it didn't happen.
Instagram's direct message polls give you private feedback
Instagram's polls are good for soliciting feedback (or just stroking your ego), but what if you'd rather not share the results with absolutely all of your followers? You now have that option. Poll stickers are now available for direct messages, making it easy to pick your friends' brains without broadcasting it as a Story. You can ask your closest pals for fashion tips without spoiling what you'll wear, for example.
Instagram adds status markers to your DM list
Instagram started telling you when your friends were active in the direct message list last January. Now the photo-centric social network is expanding the feature with a new green dot to indicate who is online and active.
Instagram makes it easier for businesses to answer your DMs
It's a big deal that Instagram now lets you make some orders without leaving the app, but what if you have questions? You're covered there, too. Instagram is trotting out direct messaging tools that help shops answer messages quickly. Right away, businesses now see your important messages in their main inbox, not a pending folder. They can filter and star conversations if they need to follow up. And in the future, they may not even have to type some messages.
Twitter relaxes the rules for customer service DMs
Twitter's bot crackdown is great for improving the quality of the service, but might make it harder for businesses to use it effectively. That's why the company is tweaking its system to enable companies to better deal with bulk communications. In the future, you shouldn't be waiting as long for a response from your favorite airline / cable provider, unless of course they're just ignoring you.
Instagram’s new feature lets you draw on your friends’ photos
Instagram released a new feature today that lets you edit pictures friends send you via direct message. Here's how it works. Once someone sends you a photo directly, tap the camera icon in the bottom of that message to reply. Then snap a picture to send back. The original picture sent to you will be included within the photo you reply with and you can then change that original photo by moving it, resizing it, drawing on it, adding stickers or adding text.
Reply to Instagram messages with pictures and video
Instagram users have a new means of expressing themselves via direct messages as of Thursday. They can now reply to shared Direct posts with images and video of their own.
Twitter adds more mute options to help filter out abuse
Twitter has added a few new options to its filter settings. Now you'll be able to disable notifications from accounts that you don't follow that are new, or don't follow you or just accounts you don't follow altogether. These additions follow a handful of others meant to help you keep out content that you don't want to see.
Twitter DM buttons let brands help (or sell to) users
If you open a Messaging window with Focus Features' account on Twitter, you'll get greeted by a menu with a few choices to pick from. Those are the platform's new Direct Messaging Buttons, which you can click to perform tasks outside the DM window. A company could bundle a button with a coupon it sends you via DM to give you an easy way to tweet it out to your followers. Some could include buttons that take you to their profiles or to their websites in an effort to lure you into following their accounts or trying out their products. Others can program a button to open a chat conversation with another account more suited to answer your questions for a better customer service experience.
Twitter’s new interactive cards help you slide into brands’ DMs
Twitter has been working hard to find new ways for brands and advertisers to connect with its users, especially since becoming a public company in 2013. Hey, shareholders need to make that money. But while customer service experiences are clearly a major focus for the social network, its latest business feature is more about brands luring you into their DMs with "fun and engaging" promoted tweets. With the new Direct Message Card, advertisers can create up to four customizable actions and pair them with images or videos to, hopefully, get you to click and see their pitch.
Twitter wants you to slide into its DMs for account help
Ever wanted to have a private chat with Twitter to settle your burning questions? At last, you can. As hinted a few weeks ago, Twitter has started offering both tips and account help through direct messages to @support. You're talking to a chatbot and not a live human, but this could still help you deal with abuse, regain control of an account or offer feedback without scrounging around Twitter's website first. It certainly beats having to publicly mention the @support account and hope for the best. Just don't expect them to give you an edit button and you'll be set.
Customer service on Twitter now includes location sharing
Twitter is one way to easily get some customer service. A simple tweet can often get a faster response than finding a customer support number or using email. The social network has a new feature to make support even more personal: Brands can now request and share location data with users via direct messages.
Twitter built and cancelled a messaging app
For years, it's been rumored that Twitter is working on a standalone messaging app. Direct Messages, or DMs, are certainly popular with some of the service's most dedicated users. According to BuzzFeed News, a messenger app was in development as recently as September -- but its form was a little different than you might expect. It packaged tweets and new "instant messages" around particular topics -- a news story or a football team, for instance -- which were set by chosen "influencers." They were threads, essentially, similar to Reddit or Slack where groups could chat.
Twitter helps you register to vote through direct messages
Twitter is joining the ranks of internet outlets helping you exercise your right to vote. It's allying with Rock the Vote to launch a feature that helps you register in the US through a simple chat assistant. All you do is send a direct message to Twitter Government (@gov) and punch in your ZIP code when asked -- the account will tell you how to register, including a web link for signing up online. If you're a first-time voter and aren't eager to navigate websites to get answers, this could come in handy.
Twitter nixes 140 character limit in Direct Messages
Twitter's push to make DMs a full on messaging service continues. Beginning today, the 140 character limit for Direct Messages has been lifted in the iOS, Android, Mac apps, Tweetdeck and on Twitter.com. The new limit of 10,000 characters pretty much gives you license to write as much as you want in a message. The company has been expanding Direct Message features to compete with Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp and Google Hangouts for some time. In January it introduced group chat support to DMs. Twitter had originally planned on removing the 140 character limit in July. But, I guess later is better than never.
Twitter finally delivers group messaging and video
At its heart, Twitter seems to be suffering from some sort of existential crisis, struggling to work out if it's a social network, a messaging service or a publishing platform. Today sees the company launch two features that, if we're honest, only really tick the second and third items on that list. Starting from now, you see, users can host group direct messages with those in your social circle that can only be seen as a broadside on services like WhatsApp. The other big feature, meanwhile, is that Twitter's mobile apps will now let you record, edit and share 30-second videos straight to your timeline.
Twitter will finally let you see -- and delete -- all of your direct messages
If you've been on Twitter long enough, chances are that you've sent at least one or two direct messages (DMs) that you'd rather not see again. Deleting any regretful conversations in one fell swoop should you use the service across multiple devices isn't as simple as it should be, though, and as of now, destroying a private-picture thread from your phone might not mean it'll be missing when you load Twitter.com from your laptop. Well, the microblogging giant knows how much of a pain this is and is working to address it. The company issued a tweet (naturally) saying that it's rolling out an update to make deleting DMs "more consistent" across web and mobile over the next few weeks. What's more, Twitter says that it's working on an update to bring your entire DM history to the Android and iOS apps as well. Whether or not that's a good thing depends on your messaging habits, we'd imagine. [Image credit: AFP/Getty Images]
Twitter update takes on Snapchat with direct message photos, improved alerts
Well, it's not quite the dramatic redesign Twitter experimented with then largely scrapped, but today's update to its mobile apps still packs a pretty decent punch. For one, you can finally share images via direct message, which has until now been a text-only affair. The DM feature is also much more prominently displayed in the navigation bar, rather than buried in an inconvenient place. It's hard not to see the move as a response to Snapchat's growing popularity, which is built around securely and privately sharing images and short videos. It may also (for better or worse) put an end to scandals centered around publicly tweeted body parts. The iOS version is also taking a cue from its Android brother and moving to a more swipe-friendly UI. Now you can simply flick your finger across the screen to switch between your home, discover and activity timelines. The notification options have also been given a significant overhaul that adds plenty of flexibility. The Android version even lets you turn on notifications for individual users by starring their profiles. Hit up the iTunes or Google Play app stores now to download the update.
