Sometimes, not everything necessarily needs to be shared with everybody, particularly if you have a large audience.

How Instagram Direct Works

An Instagram Direct message can be sent to anyone you’re following.

Keep in mind that the recipient can reject your request.

This helps protect users' privacy from potential spam and abuse.

If you have an older version of Instagram, the Instagram Direct icon looks like a paper airplane.

If you’ve updated Instagram, the Instagram Direct icon is the Messenger logo.

If you have any new messages, you’ll see a number in red by the Instagram Direct icon.

Tap it to open your message inbox.

Unread messages will have a blue dot.

Reply back to an Instagram Direct message the way you would on any other private messaging app.

All message replies appear as bubbles, so you could easily follow along with the conversation.

Tap thenew messageicon (or tap a current conversation).

Search for someone, or tap a suggested friend, then tapChatto start a new conversation.

key in your message in the message box, add emojis if you like, then tapSend.

Tap multiple people to start a group chat.

you might also leave any group conversation you’re part of without deleting the whole group message itself.

TheFacebook Messengerchat system is the core of direct messaging in these apps.

To do this, tap theMessengericon at the top-right of the screen, then tap thenew messageicon.

Scroll down the list of suggested friends and you’ll seeFacebook Friends.

Tap one to start a message.

Write a message, if you like, then tapSend.

If you tap multiple people, tapSend Separately.

If it’s a video or photo message, tap thethree dots, then tapReportand select a reason.

Alternatively, you could use safety features like Limits and Hidden Words.

Hidden Words let you flag specific words, phrases, and emojis.

Then, in the Details screen, selectThemeand pick one of the presented options.

To access your DMs, swipe left on the Instagram feed.

Here you’ll see a list of recent chats.

Tap on one to see your previous conversations with a person.

Log into your Instagram account on a desktop, then select thepaper planeicon.

You should see all of your DMs, along with an option to start a new DM conversation.

Enter thenameof the user you want to contact > punch in a message.

initiate the Instagram app and select yourprofile>hamburger menuicon >parameters>Account>Recently Deleted.