Although Instagram is one of the most popular social networking platforms in the world, the company is actively working on improving its services and enhancing customer experience all the time. Ten years after its launch, Instagram rolled out an exciting update which has now become an integral part of its user experience.
On September 29, 2020, Instagram users were able to react to messages for the first time.
This exciting update has redefined our experience of the app. Communication is now easier than ever. Gone are the days when you would leave a message hanging because you didn’t know what to say or how to say it. Now, message reactions always come through for Instagram users.
Using these emojis, you can now express your emotions without having to say a word. You can simply react to a message.
Although this feature has been around for two years, some users still find it a little confusing to use. If this is you, then we can help. In this article, we’ll show you why and how to react to messages on Instagram using emojis.
Why Should You React to Messages on Instagram?
Have you ever been undecided about how to respond to an Instagram message? Maybe you just couldn’t find the right words to express yourself without feeling awkward. If this is you, you should definitely learn how to react to messages.
Instead of thinking about the right response to give, you can simply choose the right emoji to communicate your message to whoever you’re chatting with.
Even though this functionality has long existed on Messenger since 2016, it wasn’t introduced to Instagram until four years later. This feature was developed as a result of Instagram’s integration with Messenger. But it doesn’t end there.
You can even message your Facebook friends directly on Instagram, without having to log into Facebook. This update automatically allows you to access more Messenger features on Instagram.
If you’ve been active on Instagram prior to this update, you might remember that the double-tap action was the only way to react to a message back in the day. Now, the platform has advanced, allowing users choose their own custom reactions.
There have been many updates on this platform, but this is one of the most exciting. What’s not to love? Emojis are entertaining, exciting, and can make any chat more enjoyable. Sometimes, an emoji can even communicate emotions better than written words.
So, if you’re not including emoji reactions as a regular feature of your everyday chats, you may not be making the most of messaging on Instagram.
How to React to Messages on Instagram
Reacting to messages on Instagram is just as easy as sending your favourite emoji. If you have already downloaded the most recent version of the Instagram app, all you need to do is head over to your messages by clicking the Messenger icon at the top-right corner.
Emoji reactions are hidden, but you can easily reveal them by tapping and holding the message you want to react to. Six default emojis will pop up on your screen.
You can react to the message by simply clicking any of these emojis. If you can’t find the emoji you want, tap the “+” sign on the right to reveal a full list of all of Instagram’s emojis.
Whether you own an iPhone or an Android device, the process is basically the same.
- Launch the Instagram app.
- Open a conversation.
- Tap and hold a message.
- Choose your preferred emoji.
If you don’t already have the Instagram app, you can easily download it on your device. Once this is done, you can start a chat and start reacting to messages.
If you’re new to the platform and you don’t have any friends to chat with, you can manually follow
other users, or automatically grow your account by buying Instagram followers here at UseViral.
How to Reply to a Message on Instagram with an Emoji
If you don’t want to react to a message, you can reply by sending an emoji instead. They serve the same purpose. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to respond to an Instagram message using an emoji.
- Open a conversation.
- Tap a message and swipe left to quote it.
- Tap the message text box at the bottom of the screen.
- Click the emoji symbol on your keyboard.
- Choose your preferred emoji.
You can either send just one emoji, or as many as you want.
How to Modify the Instagram Double-tap Reaction Emoji
When you double tap a message, you automatically react to the message with the heart emoji. While this is the default emoji for the double-tap action, it may not be the best emoji to express how you’re feeling.
The good news is you can modify the Instagram double-tap reaction emoji. Here is a step-by-step guide to help you change the default heart emoji to any custom emoji.
- Open a conversation.
- Tap and hold a message.
- Tap the “+” icon on the right.
- Click “Customise.”
- Tap the heart reaction, then choose an emoji to replace it with.
- Save your custom reaction.
Now, when you double-tap a message, your custom emoji pops up instead of a heart emoji. If you would like to customise the other five emojis on the list, you can use this process as well.
You can add any emojis you want, making your Instagram message reactions reflect what you are really trying to convey.
Final Thoughts
Now you know how to react to messages on Instagram. It’s a lot like reacting to messages on Messenger. This similarity doesn’t come as a surprise, considering that they’re both integrated apps under the same umbrella company, Meta.
Before you start reacting to messages on Instagram, make sure that your app is up to date. This way, you’ll have all the newest updates, which could include more exciting emojis to react with.