Instagram DMs have become the go-to place for many of us to share updates, have quick chats, or plan meetups with friends. Now, Instagram is making it even easier and more fun to connect with its latest features, including live location sharing, nicknames, and a fresh batch of stickers. These updates aim to simplify your interactions and make your conversations more personal.
Planning meetups or finding friends in busy places is now a breeze with Instagram’s live location sharing. You can share your location in real-time for up to an hour or pin a specific spot on the map to coordinate plans.
Live location sharing is private, limited to the specific 1:1 or group chat you choose, and cannot be forwarded. An indicator at the top of your chat helps you keep track of your shared location, and you can stop sharing anytime. This feature is off by default and is currently available in select countries.
Also read: Instagram’s new feature lets you drop comments on Stories: Here’s how it works
Sometimes words just don’t cut it, and Instagram’s new stickers are here to help. With 17 new sticker packs and over 300 options, you can express your mood, react to a reel, or simply make someone smile.
Loved a sticker your friend shared or one you created with cutouts? You can now favourite it for easy reuse later.
Also read: Instagram now lets you add text and stickers to photos, announces other features too
Instagram is also introducing nicknames to make chats more fun and recognisable. You can set unique names for your friends or yourself within conversations. Whether it’s an inside joke or a simpler version of a long username, nicknames are visible only in DMs and can be updated anytime. By default this is set to people you follow, but you can also change this so only you can update your nickname.