Doha, Qatar: Instagram rolled out a new feature to protect users from receiving unwanted photos and video content in direct messages (DMs) and curtailing the number of message requests from non-followers.
This feature was introduced after several weeks of testing.
Image: Instagram
The new feature imposes two new restrictions on those who seek to send DM requests to individuals who do not follow them.
Primarily, instead of having the ability to send an unlimited quantity of DM requests, users can now only send one message.
They will only be allowed to continue sending DMs once their chat request has been accepted.
Secondly, DM invitations have been restricted to text-only, signifying that users can only send pictures, videos, or voice notes to non-followers after their chat request has been accepted.
Cindy Southworth, the Head of Women’s Safety at Meta, Instagram's parent company, remarked: "We aspire for individuals to feel confident and in control when they open their inbox.”
“That’s why we’re testing new features that prevent people from receiving images, videos or multiple messages from someone they don’t follow, until they’ve accepted the request to chat. We value the feedback we receive from our community — and we will continue to listen to find ways to make everyone feel safer on Instagram,” she added.
