Instagram is rolling out a host of new features designed to make connecting with friends through direct messages (DMs) easier, more fun, and more meaningful. From customizable nicknames to live location sharing, these updates aim to simplify coordination and enhance personal interactions.
Express Yourself with Stickers
To help users say more when words fall short, Instagram has added 17 new sticker packs featuring over 300 options. Whether capturing a mood or reacting to a message, these stickers bring a new layer of creativity to chats. Users can now also save favorite stickers from conversations, including those shared by friends or created with custom cutouts, for quick reuse.
Personalized Nicknames
For a touch of personalization, users can now assign nicknames to themselves and their friends within DMs. Ideal for inside jokes or simplifying long usernames, nicknames appear only in your private chats and can be updated anytime. Setting up a nickname is straightforward: tap the chat name at the top of a conversation, select “Nicknames,” and choose the username you want to customize. You can also control who in a chat has the ability to change nicknames.
Simplified Meet-Ups with Location Sharing
Instagram is making it easier to meet up in real life with the introduction of live location sharing and pinned map spots. Users can share their real-time location privately in a 1:1 or group chat for up to one hour, making it ideal for finding each other at concerts, gatherings, or outings.
The live location sharing feature includes privacy safeguards: it expires after an hour, cannot be forwarded to other chats, and displays a clear indicator when active. Users are encouraged to share their location only with people they trust in real life.
Availability
The location-sharing feature is currently being tested in select countries, with a broader rollout expected soon.
These new tools reflect Instagram’s commitment to fostering meaningful connections, whether users are chatting digitally or coordinating meet-ups in the real world.
