Instagram is once again updating its platform by adding more features within its direct messages.
Now, users can access a new option that allows them to reply to a direct message from their feed without going to their inbox, as well as the ability to share song previews and conduct polls in group chats.
According to Instagram’s head Adam Mosseri, this update aims to help improve the social media app’s messaging features.
“Messaging is one of the primary ways that people — actually it is the primary way people connect online at this point,” said Mosseri. “Instagram needs to embrace the fact that messaging is that primary form of communication.”
In addition to making it easier for users to access their direct messages, there is a new menu that makes it simple to reshare posts to four friends with the click of a button.
Users will also be able to share 30-second clips of songs through Instagram’s Apple and Amazon Music integrations.
These new updates are similar to what is currently offered on Facebook Messenger and have been part of the firm’s plan to make both chat platforms cross-compatible. For instance, Instagram recently included the Messenger feature that shows multiple profile pictures at the top of users’ inbox to see who is online.
Some features are currently now available worldwide, and music sharing will start rolling out today. However, Christine Pai, a spokesperson for Instagram, noted that the platform cannot support some of these features in Europe due to local laws.
