Instagram Adds New ‘People you Follow’ Filter For Direct Messages
Instagram has introduced a new "People You Follow" filter for direct messages (DMs). This filter, which will be available starting this week, enables creators and brands to filter and view their DMs specifically from the people they follow. It joins existing filters such as Unread, Unanswered, and Flagged.
Why It Matters: Direct messages have become core to the social media experience, including Instagram, where the platform has continued to roll out messaging-related features, including Broadcast Channels and Notes.
Adding the ability to filter messages from accounts they follow will benefit creators, especially those with a large following. They can easily track and manage the most important messages, such as other creators reaching out to collaborate, brands responding to their pitches, or even top fans that they follow sharing their feedback on their latest upload.
Plus, it should lead to a safer experience for creators as it can weld out messages from people whom they don’t follow, which can potentially be negative.
Look for platforms to continue to expand functionalities related to messages as more people gravitate towards sharing with smaller groups, along with how DMs can allow creators to interact and engage with their fans.
One potential future development for Instagram that could be even more beneficial for creators is the ability to filter DMs by people who engage with their content the most, enabling creators to prioritize messages from their biggest supporters and those with whom their content resonates the most.
