Observed Signal · Jul 24, 2023 · Technical Release · Source: OnlineMarketing.de · Impact: 4/5 · Sentiment: Neutral
Instagram adds chat invitations for DMs
Instagram is tightening its Direct Messages safety by changing how non-followed accounts can initiate conversations. Under the new flow, users must send invitations for direct exchanges to accounts they do not follow. Previously, messages from unfamiliar accounts appeared as message requests, potentially enabling unsolicited contact. The change, first spotted by app researcher Alessandro Paluzzi in June 2023 and later observed by social media expert Ahmed Ghanem, introduces the first message as a chat invitation rather than a request. Recipients must accept the invitation before normal messaging resumes. If the invite is accepted, users can continue chatting as usual. Instagram has been rolling out related features and safety updates, and the move aligns with broader efforts to protect younger users from unwanted Direct Messages. The update demonstrates Instagram's ongoing experimentation with messaging UX and safety controls on the platform.
Technical Release of a major platform feature affecting messaging safety; relevance to AdTech/MarTech and social platforms.
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- Instagram changes DM flow: non-followed accounts must send a chat invitation to start a conversation.
- The change was first spotted by app researcher Alessandro Paluzzi in June 2023 and later documented by Ahmed Ghanem.
- The first DM from a non-follower is now a chat invitation; conversations begin only after the recipient accepts.
- If an invitation is accepted, messaging proceeds as normal.
- Instagram recently rolled out other features (Nearby Reels, View Channel Button, Posts without Caption in Stories) and is pursuing safety updates for direct messaging.
Connected Companies & Entities
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Related Market Signals & Shifts
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Connect X DMs to Amazon Connect Chat
A technical tutorial (Spanish) demonstrates a bidirectional integration that connects Direct Messages (DMs) from X (Twitter) to Amazon Connect Chat. The guide provides end-to-end architecture and deployable code (AWS CDK) using AWS Lambda, API Gateway, DynamoDB, SNS, Secrets Manager and SSM Parameter Store. It explains webhook CRC validation for X’s Account Activity API, parsing and echo-loop prevention, caching X user profiles in DynamoDB (7‑day TTL), automatic Amazon Connect chat session management, and handling media attachments both inbound and outbound using the Amazon Connect Participant API and X media upload endpoints via the Tweepy SDK. The repo and CDK stack are provided; prerequisites include an Amazon Connect instance and X developer account with Pay‑Per‑Use tier and OAuth 1.0a credentials.
TikTok adds hidden emoji game in DMs
TikTok has introduced a hidden emoji game accessible inside direct messages worldwide. Players trigger the game by sending a single emoji in a one-on-one or group chat and tapping it; the objective is to bounce upward across alligators while avoiding skeletons and broken tiles, with floating emojis and propeller alligators granting speed boosts. TikTok told TechCrunch the feature is intended to make messaging more playful and competitive. The move echoes Instagram’s earlier hidden DM emoji game and comes amid broader experimentation with chat-based games across social platforms (Meta/Threads is prototyping chat games).
Instagram adds voice filters to DMs
Instagram is testing AI-powered voice effects for Direct Messages, enabling users to make voice notes sound like characters such as a chipmunk, alien, demon, robot, underwater, or stadium announcer. In 1:1 and group chats, users record voice messages and apply effects via an in-app editor; recipients can see the effect used and may apply it in their replies. The voice remains bassed on the original tone and emotion while the vocal timbre changes. The process is designed to be simple: open a chat, record, choose an effect, preview, and send. The feature aligns with Meta’s ongoing expansion of messaging capabilities and follows other recent updates in Meta’s ecosystem, though it’s not yet clear which users or markets have access. The article notes that the deployment details are still uncertain.
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