Instagram Adds New DM Options, Including Voice Clip Transcription

Instagram’s announced a couple of messaging updates, as it continues to lean into rising DM usage in the app.

Indeed, Instagram chief Adam Mosseri recently reiterated once again that “way more photos and videos are shared into DMs” than to any other element of the app, even going so far as to label it “a paradigm shift” in user behavior, which he’s also noted in several other interviews over the last year.

As such, it makes sense for Instagram to add more messaging elements and functions to foster evolving trends.

First off, Instagram’s adding text transcription of voice messages in DMs, so that you can still engage with your messages in any environment.

As you can see in this example, now, when you receive an audio clip in a DM, you’ll also have the option to transcribe it in-stream, via a “View transcription” button below the audio wave.

As per Instagram:

“Now when you receive a voice message in DMs, you can view a transcription of the audio before, during, and after you play the voice message, making it easier to connect with friends even when you can’t listen to their message out loud.” 

It could be a handy addition, providing another means to interact with DM content.

Also on voice messages, Instagram’s extending the maximum length of audio clips in DMs from 1 minute to 5 minutes.

So more capacity for your audio missives, enabling you to rant a little longer, which the recipient can also translate into text form if they wish.

(Note: The length of Rick Astley’s 1987 his “Never Gonna’ Give You Up” is 3:33.)   

Instagram’s been testing this with some users for a while, so it has been floating around in some corners of the app, but now, all users will be able to send extended audio clips with their DMs.

Finally, Instagram’s also adding a quick follow option within group chats, so you can easily follow every participant in any chat.

As you can see in this example, Instagram’s added a “Follow All” button in the group chat participant display, which you can tap to immediately follow the profile of everyone in the chat.

I mean, presumably, in most cases, you’ll be following all of your chat friends anyway, but with more and more people creating more and more groups for different purpose, there could be value in having a quick connection option to ensure you stay across each of your friends’, or like-interested people’s updates.

Some small, but interesting tweaks, which could come in handy for your IG DM interactions.