Instagram Tests "Chat Widgets": Fun New Tools to Liven Up Your DMs
The platform is now looking at ways of enhancing users’ interactions in the DMs through the use of chat widgets. These widgets are intended to add new features and options to the chat flow and, therefore, improve the messaging experience.
New Chat Widgets in Development
App researcher Alessandro Paluzzi has recently posted a screenshot of what might be the new feature called “Chat Widgets” on Instagram.
The current list of chat widgets includes:
- Countdown Widget: It enables the user to set a countdown within the chat.
- Timezone Widget: Shows the time of day of each of the participants in the chat.
- Pinned Content Widget: Provides easy navigation to frequently used or pin-down content.
Enhancing user interaction
These widgets can be very helpful in increasing engagement, as the information is fed directly into the chat. For example, the countdown widget can be utilised to create awareness of an event or a deadline, thus encouraging the users to engage at the right time. The timezone widget is highly beneficial when communicating with friends or work colleagues in different parts of the world to guarantee that messages are sent at the right time. The pinned content widget is very helpful in making it easy to find the shared materials and thus enhances the flow of communication.
Potential for Brand Engagement
Another area that has potential for brand interaction is the use of chat widgets. These are some of the tools through which brands can improve their relationship with their customers. For instance, a countdown widget can be used to build a sense of scarcity and prompt customers to act faster. It is crucial to show the local time to make sure that the brand is active and present when the audience is most active.
Shift Towards Private Sharing
This is in line with the general trend of social media platforms to improve DM features. Instagram’s head, Adam Mosseri, has said that the platform has moved more towards private posting. People are now posting more stories and sending messages in direct messages than sharing content on their feed. This change is in line with the general trend observed in social media towards more private and limited sharing options.
This trend has been picked up by Instagram as it has been introducing many private sharing options, including the recently popular inbox Notes feature. This is where the integration of chat widgets is in tune with this strategy, as it offers users more options to improve their one-on-one conversations.
Future Releases and Updates
At the moment, there is no information from Instagram on when these chat widgets will be available or the full list of widgets that can be used. Nevertheless, these trends point to Instagram’s continuous attempts to expand and improve the features of private messaging. More information will be available in the future as Instagram keeps on enhancing and developing the DMs.
