direct messaging
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Instagram adds direct messaging on Windows 10
If you use Instagram on your Windows 10 PC, you may notice a subtle change the next time you open the app. Instagram has updated its Windows software to make it into something called a progressive web app (PWA). What this means is that you're effectively interacting with the Instagram website through a wrapper that makes it feel like a native application.
Instagram offers access to DMs on the web
Instagram on the web has long played second fiddle to the mobile apps (look at how long it took to get notifications), but that gap is about to narrow considerably. The social network is rolling out direct messages on the web to a "small percentage" of users worldwide as part of a public test following internal experiments in 2019. Much like on your phone, you can participate in regular and group chats, share photos, 'like' messages and receive notifications. More news on a possible wider release is coming in the future, Instagram told The Verge.
Instagram now asks new users for their age
Instagram is getting more serious about curbing underage use. As of December 4th, the social network will start asking for your date of birth when you sign up.
Instagram’s Threads is compelling, but kind of creepy
Look, I'm not one to constantly post selfies. I'd rather just take pictures of random buildings or my sneakers. But, when I do take a selfie, it's mostly just so I can share a goofy face with my family or best friends. I've mentioned this before in previous stories about Facebook, Instagram has become one of my main messaging apps -- right up there with iMessage and WhatsApp. That's why the idea of Instagram's new Threads app, which is designed specifically for private messages between you and your closest friends, sounds so intriguing.
Instagram's Threads is a camera app for sharing with your closest friends
If you want to get a glimpse of Mark Zuckerberg's "privacy-focused" vision for Facebook, then look no further than Instagram's new social app: Threads. This new standalone, camera-first messaging app is an extension of Instagram's Close Friends feature on Stories, which lets you share pictures, videos and more only with groups of people you've carefully selected. As the Facebook CEO has said in recent months, his plan is to take Facebook into an era of "simple, intimate places," where individuals can have a dedicated space for private interactions on its family of apps. And with Threads from Instagram, which launches today on iOS and Android, the company is taking a step in that direction.
Twitter's DM search is available for all iOS users
Twitter is continuing its streak of releasing features it teased in August. The internet giant is rolling out its previously-tested direct message search to iOS users. You only have to type in a search box to recall the restaurant you were supposed to visit. Keywords apply to user names, informal names and the content of messages, so it should be easy to narrow DMs to those from a close friend.
Twitter rolls out filter for potentially offensive DMs
Twitter is quickly acting on plans to filter potentially offensive direct messages. It's rolling out the filter to all users on Android, iOS and the web. As during the test, there isn't much mystery to how this works. If a message contains questionable language or is likely spam, it'll be tucked away in an "additional messages" folder. You'll only see the colorful language if you explicitly tap on a message in that folder. You won't have to put up with DM harassers if you'd rather just carry on with your day.
YouTube is removing its direct messaging feature in September
YouTube's direct messaging feature isn't exactly Google's most popular way to chat, but it was a convenient way to share videos on the platform, especially on mobile. It probably wasn't used often enough, though, because the company has decided to kill the feature altogether. A YouTube support page (spotted by 9to5Google) has revealed that the video-sharing platform is removing its native messaging function after September 18th.
Twitter starts testing DM searches
It didn't take long for Twitter to make direct message searches a practical reality after teasing them -- though you'll need a little luck to give them a try. The social network has begun testing a DM search bar in its iOS app and the web. It'll only sift through your "most recent" DMs, but that might be enough if you're trying to remember where you agreed to meet for a night out.
Twitter is finally working on search for DMs
Twitter isn't just launching a deluge of tests -- it just announced that a few sought-after features in the pipeline. Most notably, it's developing a long-overdue search for direct messages. Although there aren't many specifics at this point, it's reasonable to say this will spare you from digging through a conversation to find a crucial message from days ago. The social network added that it's "re-energizing" its work on DMs, so this is really just the highlight of a larger strategy.
Good luck sliding into anyone's Twitter DMs right now
Facebook isn't the only internet behemoth suffering from serious downtime. As of mid-day on July 3rd, Twitter is experiencing "some issues" with direct message delivery and notifications. We've asked Twitter if it can clarify what happened, but you probably won't be sliding into anyone's DMs until the issue is resolved.
Instagram's latest Stories sticker is a direct link to group chats
Instagram is introducing a new feature that will let users start private group messages around specific Stories. The company announced the change on Twitter today. Users will soon be able to add a "join chat" sticker to their Stories. If followers tap the sticker, they'll be added to a private group chat -- though the author will have the ability to approve or deny requests.
Instagram is killing its dedicated Direct messaging app
It looks like Instagram is killing its standalone Direct messaging app and laying it to rest very soon. Social media consultant Matt Navarra and a few reviewers on the application's Google Play page have reported getting a notification that says Instagram will no longer support the Direct app "in the coming month." It didn't mention an exact date for Direct's demise, only that your conversations will automatically be transferred to the main Instagram app -- the move won't actually delete your DMs with friends.
Instagram tests web DMs so you can slide from your desktop
Instagram is reportedly testing the ability to send and receive direct messages through its website on mobile and desktop devices. Reverse engineering expert Jane Manchun Wong first spotted the apparent internal test of the feature, which showed up shortly after reports that Facebook intended to unify its many messaging apps. Engadget has reached out to Instagram for more information regarding web and desktop direct messaging and we will update the story if we hear back.
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.
