Meta-owned Instagram has announced a new update to its direct messages (DMs), aimed at improving the experience for users flooded with incoming messages, particularly creators and influencers.
The app is rolling out new tools designed to help users sort and filter their “message requests” – those incoming messages that don’t land in the main inbox, all based on user-defined controls.
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These innovative tools will allow users to categorise message requests by various criteria, including follower count, verified accounts, and brands.
This enhancement empowers creators to quickly identify high-priority messages that could significantly impact their business and relationships.
“Introducing improvements to DMs for creators, including new ways to filter message requests so you can easily find the messages you don’t want to miss,” Instagram head Adam Mosseri wrote.
He also said that there’s a lot more work to do to make “DMs easier for creators to navigate, so keep the feedback coming”.
Additionally, Instagram will add a new “Story Replies” folder, consolidating all story replies in one convenient location for easy access.
The changes come as a direct response to feedback from creators worldwide, who have voiced their struggles with managing an overwhelming influx of DMs, the company mentioned.
The new “Sort & Filter” options will appear as an overlay on the inbox, allowing users to sort requests by recency or by the sender’s follower count.
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This feature is particularly useful for highlighting messages from fellow creators or brands interested in business collaborations.
Users can also check or uncheck additional options to refine their display based on factors such as whether the account is verified, a business, or a creator account.
Last month, Meta rolled out a range of new safety features on Instagram in order to protect teens from ‘sextortion’ and make it even more difficult for sextortion criminals to succeed.