Instagram Stories have become a popular way to share photos and videos that disappear after 24 hours. Many people use Instagram Stories to post updates throughout their day or document an event. One fun feature of Stories is the ability to reply to messages from your friends and followers.
What are Instagram Stories?
Instagram Stories allow users to post photos and videos that are visible to their followers for 24 hours. After that time, the Stories disappear from the app. Stories appear in a bar at the top of the home feed and can be accessed by tapping on a user’s profile photo.
When you post a Story, your followers can view it by tapping on your profile picture. They can also react to your Story with text or emoji responses. These responses will appear in a message thread on your Story that others can see.
How do you reply to messages on an Instagram Story?
Replying to messages on an Instagram Story is easy! Here are the steps:
- Open the Instagram app and go to your profile.
- Tap on your profile picture at the top left to view your current Story.
- Swipe up on the Story you want to reply to. This will open the list of responses.
- Tap on the message thread you want to reply to.
- Type your reply in the text box at the bottom.
- Tap the arrow icon to post your reply.
Once you reply, your message will be visible to anyone who views that Story. You’ll see your response threaded together with the original message you’re replying to.
Tips for Replying to Instagram Story Messages
- Keep replies short and sweet. Stick to a few words or an emoji.
- Reply in a timely manner. Your friends will appreciate a quick response.
- Tag friends by typing @username to get their attention or share an inside joke.
- Use emojis and stickers to express yourself.
- Ask questions to keep the conversation going and engage your audience.
Who Can See Your Story Message Replies?
Your replies will be visible to anyone who views the Story you responded to. People who follow you both will see the entire message thread. If someone only follows one of you, they’ll only see that side of the conversation.
Note that your replies are not visible in the main Instagram Direct message inbox. They are only viewable when accessing the specific Story.
How Long Do Story Message Replies Last?
Message replies will disappear along with the Story after 24 hours. There is no way to save or permanently delete Story replies. They will automatically be removed once the Story expires.
If you delete a Story before 24 hours, any attached message threads will be deleted as well. Keep this in mind if you change your mind about a Story and want to remove any replies.
Can You Reply With Photos or Videos?
Unfortunately, you can only reply to Instagram Story messages with text or emoji. The messaging feature does not support sending photos, videos, GIFs or stickers as replies.
If you want to respond to a Story with photo or video content, you’ll need to post it as a new Story on your profile. You can’t attach media files directly to a Story reply.
Tips for Managing Instagram Story Replies
- Reply to positive or funny messages to encourage more engagement.
- Consider turning off Story replies if you receive unwanted messages.
- Delete a Story if the replies take an unwanted turn.
- Report harassing or inappropriate replies using Instagram’s reporting feature.
- Turn on post notifications to stay updated on new replies.
Can You Hide Story Replies?
There is no option to hide certain replies on your Instagram Stories. All messages are visible to anyone viewing that Story.
If you want to remove a specific reply, you would need to delete the entire Story. Once a Story is deleted, associated replies will be removed as well.
The only way to prevent a reply from being seen is to block the user who posted the comment. This will remove their messages from your Stories.
Third-Party Apps for Managing Instagram Stories
Some third-party apps provide additional features for saving, viewing, and managing Instagram Stories and replies:
- Story Reposter: Repost old Stories to your current story.
- Story Saver: Download and save Instagram Stories to your camera roll.
- Story Viewer: Secretly view Stories without the seen indicator.
However, keep in mind that these apps violate Instagram’s Terms of Service. Use at your own risk.
The Benefits of Story Message Replies
Replying to Story messages provides some great benefits, including:
- Increased engagement with your followers.
- The ability to get feedback and opinions.
- Joining in on trends and viral Stories.
- More intimate connections through real conversations.
- Showing followers you care by responding.
Conclusion
Posting on Instagram Stories is a great way to give followers a behind-the-scenes look at your life. The messaging feature takes things one step further by enabling real-time conversations.
Replying to Story messages is easy – simply swipe up from the Story, tap the message thread, and type your response. Have fun engaging with your friends and fans!