5 tips to know for your messaging

With around two billion users each month, Instagram is one of the most popular social networks in the world. Its messaging has become an essential tool for interacting with friends and its community, as a space in its own right, which makes the Meta application as much a social entertainment network as a private communication platform. Over time, this messaging system has acquired numerous features, giving users more and more freedom to communicate. Discover five detailed tips to get the most out of your Instagram messaging!

1. Sharing ephemeral photos and videos

Ephemeral photos and videos are ideal for sharing temporary content. To use this feature:

• Tap the camera icon in the conversation,
• Take a photo or record a video,
• Before sending the content to your interlocutor, choose the time option that suits you between Allow replay, Permanent or Single view : the first option allows a second view of the media, the second offers content without view or time limit, and the third limits to one viewing.

Select the “Single view” option when capturing your media so that it is only visible once to your recipient. © BDM assembly

Messages will be automatically deleted once they have been seen by the recipient. In addition, it is possible to add personalized elements such as text, stickers or designs directly to the photo before sending it. However, access to certain AI-assisted personalization options is not yet available in Europe.

2. Creating personalized stickers to illustrate messages

Stickers allow you to respond or react to a message in a creative and humorous way. Instagram lets you create your own stickers from your photos, and soon explore AI stickers. In Europe, these are not yet available due to AI regulations, but it is possible to get around this by using the functionality Cutouts. Here’s how to do it:

• Open a conversation and tap the stickers icon at the bottom right of the screen,
• Select Cutouts to access your gallery,
• Choose a photo, then use the cutout tool to turn any part of the image into a sticker,
• Then press Save the sticker. This is saved in your personal collection and you can use it directly or later.

Personalize your own stickers using the dedicated option. © BDM assembly

If you want to delete a created sticker, hold down the one that no longer suits you to see the delete option appear.

3. Managing the Instagram messaging theme

Each conversation can take on a different theme on Instagram. Indeed, it is possible to make discussions visually attractive thanks to customizable themes. Changing the theme is a great way to give a unique look to each conversation. Here is the procedure to follow to select an email theme:

• Open the Instagram conversation you want to personalize,
• Tap the contact or group name at the top of the screen,
• Select Theme and choose the one that suits you from the options provided.

You can change the background of a conversation using the theme option, like here with the “little cat” theme. © BDM assembly

In Europe, some special themes, particularly those related to collaborations, may not be available. However, by enabling update notifications, you will be informed when new themes are deployed.

4. The ability to pin conversations

Quickly finding your favorite discussions is now possible with the function Pin. Instagram lets you pin up to three conversations to keep them at the top of your inbox. A particularly useful option for those who use messaging on a daily basis with many of their loved ones, or to highlight a particularly important conversation. To pin a discussion, here’s how:

• Open messaging and scroll to the conversation of your choice,
• Long press on the conversation (individual or group),
• Select Pin in the menu that appears.

Pin a discussion to find it at the top of the list in your inbox. © BDM assembly

Your conversation will now appear at the top of your chats list, marked with a small pin. And to unpin it, just do the same thing.

5. Sending messages without generating notifications

If you want to send a message without your interlocutor being disturbed by the notification, it is entirely possible and without any action necessary on the part of the recipient. The order /silent allows you to send a message without generating a notification, which allows your contact to read it whenever they want. Here’s how to use the command /silent on Instagram:

• Open the desired conversation.
• Type /silentfollowed by a space, then write your message,
• Send the message as usual. It will appear in the conversation, but without audio or visual notification to the recipient.

This feature is particularly useful for late, early morning messages of no real importance or urgency. And if, for your part, you simply no longer want to hear from one of your contacts, you can always discreetly mute them!