Instagram announced a significant feature to its apps that will bring private sharing of photos and videos to the service, called Instagram Direct. Instagram private messaging feature looks like an answer to the messaging services like Snapchat and others. The new feature allows users to send photos and videos directly to select contacts and initiate chat on those photos and videos.
Instagram Direct is now available on iOS and Android version of the apps with version 5.0. Instagram says as Windows Phone app is in beta, you have to wait for some time to get the feature. After installing the update you will see a inbox icon on top, clicking on will take you to the Direct, where you can send a photo or video to your contacts. It works the same way as you use, only thing is after taking the photo or video instead of sending to your followers, you send it to only select contacts.
You and your contacts can comment on the photo you sent, you can send the photo or video to 15 contacts and they can all chat in the comments section. There is no way to send more photos into the conversation, if you want to send another photo you can send but that will become a separate conversation. When you send a photo or video to a contact you will know whether they viewed it or not. You can also send and receive photos from people from not on your followers list, but you need to approve their request vice versa.
