Instagram tests a way to receive messages only from people you follow

It seems like yesterday but we have been able to send and receive private messages on the Instagram application for no less than six years. It was in 2013 when Instagram, which had just been bought by Facebook, implemented the possibility for users to communicate with each other in a more intimate and private way. And, with this, the SPAM ban was opened and advertising messages, on occasions, were the order of the day. Six years later, Instagram's engineers have decided enough is enough and they're going to give the app user more power than they've ever had over the messages they receive.

Choose who can message you on Instagram Direct

App researcher with Twitter account, Jane Manchun Wong, who often posts juicy leaks, has just discovered an Instagram Direct new function that will allow the user to control who receives private messages from. For example, the user will be able to discriminate all the messages that she receives from users that she does not follow, even if they follow him. On numerous occasions, Instagram users have declared that they felt invaded by bot accounts whose sole function is to send private advertising messages, many of them even containing adult content and inappropriate for minors.

"Instagram is working on Allow Messages From People I Follow"

This could shield users from unwanted messages without making privatizing the account pic.twitter.com/X3f8DgMudo

- Jane Manchun Wong (@wongmjane) August 31, 2019

Currently, if a user you don't follow sends you a message, the application alerts you and you decide whether to see it or simply ignore it, being a bit annoying having to keep an eye on whether or not you receive a message from someone you don't know. In this way, with the new tool, the user can rest assured that they will no longer receive any more messages from unknown people. This new security setting will appear as a new option in the messaging section. Thanks to the Twitter screenshots, we also know that Instagram is going to let you choose who can add you to group chats.

Experimental features are sometimes just that, and are not officially released to all users. We expect this new feature to rolling out little by little to other users in the coming weeks.

How to send a direct message on Instagram

It is no longer necessary to have an application apart from Instagram itself to be able to communicate privately with the people you follow. The messaging function is integrated into the application itself and is very easy to use. To send a private message and thus open a chat window with a specific user, you will have to go to that person's account and click, on their home page, where it says 'Send message'. A new screen will open where you can leave your message or your photo.

In relation to the photograph, the user can also configure how many times he wants the user to be able to see that photo: he can choose that it disappears once you have opened it, allow it to be seen again one more time or, directly, keep it within the chat if you do not want it to be deleted.We can also send a direct message from a specific photo, by clicking on the paper plane icon.

Via | Engadget