Tech tips: How to change chat theme, react to messages using new emojis, swipe to reply on Instagram

Instagram recently enabled the cross messaging feature for Instagram and Facebook. Other than combining chats from Instagram and Messenger, the new update also brings in features from Facebook Messenger to Instagram. The update adds some of the options previously available on Facebook Messenger, including colourful chats, reactions with any emoji, swiping to reply to individual messages, sharing videos with more friends, resharing posts, sending animated selfie stickers without having to download any app.

Users should make sure that they have updated the cross-app messaging features to see Messenger features on Instagram. However, they should also keep in mind that they will not be able to go back to Direct Messaging once they enable this option. To update Instagram messaging users should:

-- Click on the Direct Message arrow in the top right and tap on Update.

--Alternately, users can tap on their profile picture in the bottom right to go to their settings.

--Tap on update messaging and then tap update.

Users will notice the DM arrow icon change to the Messenger icon on the top right-hand side.

To use messaging features on Instagram, users should:

-- Open chat

--Tap on i or the more option from the top right

--Go to Theme, options like Pride, Love, Tie Dye among other themes will appear

--Choose one theme

--Users can also swipe right to reply to a message and long-press and select any emoji to react to a message.

Users can also sync their Instagram and Messenger accounts if they wish to see the same display picture and name on both messaging apps.

To sync Instagram and Messenger accounts, users should follow the given steps:

--Go to the Instagram app

-- Go to Settings from the hamburger menu or three lines on the right

-- Go to Accounts Centre

-- Your account display picture and name will be visible, tap on it.

--Tap on the Instagram account username and enable the Sync Profile Info option

A message reading, "changes you make to your synced name or photo in one app will automatically appear in both apps" will appear.

--Tap on Continue to confirm.