Instagram has rolled out several new features for its Direct Messages (DMs), including live location sharing and the ability to assign nicknames to friends, offering users more ways to personalize their interactions.
The live location feature allows users to share their real-time location with friends for up to one hour, making it easier to find each other at events such as concerts or social outings. This option is available in both one-on-one and group chats but is turned off by default for privacy reasons. The feature operates similarly to Snapchat’s SnapMap, minus the map view of all shared locations.
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In addition, Instagram now lets users assign nicknames to friends in group chats, with these names visible only within the chat. If a user doesn’t like the nickname, they can restrict others from editing it.
To further personalize chats, Instagram has added 17 new sticker packs, offering over 300 new stickers. Users can save their favorite stickers, reuse them, and even create custom stickers using the cutout feature or AI.
Instagram’s head, Adam Mosseri, noted that the platform is prioritizing the enhancement of its messaging experience in response to growing engagement with DMs. A new feature in testing includes repositioning the chat icon to the center-bottom of the app for easier access.
These updates are currently available in select countries, although Instagram has not disclosed specific regions.
