Instagram introduced this feature in 2013, along with direct messages. It shows a “seen” status when you send a message, and it gets viewed by the recipient. It ensures engaging conversations and improves communication between Instagram users. Keep reading to learn comprehensively about what does seen mean on Instagram DM.
Scenarios when Instagram says “seen” in DM
Here are the scenarios when we see “seen” in the inbox on Instagram. It is quite a handy feature for user convenience and enriches the Instagram user experience.
1. One-on-One Conversations
When a user sends you a message or you chat with one of your friends or followers, this feature comes into play. Whenever you send a direct message on Instagram to your friend, and they have viewed it, Instagram indicates a seen status in your DM.
2. Group Chats
It is a vital feature in group conversations. When you send messages in group DMs, seen on Instagram means that the members have viewed your message. It helps Institutions and collaborators track the progress of the shared piece of information and check whether the members are active on Instagram.
3. Business Conversations
The seen feature assists businesses and creators in confirming that their partners or potential clients have viewed the shared details, contract documents, and other information.
What does Seen mean on Instagram DM (Direct Message): Everything you need to know
The seen label indicates the person has read a message on Instagram and helps users to improve communication with each other. This section will discuss how to check the “seen” status, the pros and cons of the “seen” feature, and confusing terms with the term “seen”.
How to check Seen status on Instagram
You can check the ”seen” for any conversation in your Direct messages by following these simple steps:
- Launch the Instagram application on your phone and tap the message icon in the top right corner to open your Direct Messages
- Now open the conversation with the recipient you want to check the status of
- Look for the term “seen” or “seen just now” under your sent message. If any of these terms appear, it means the recipient has opened or viewed your message
Pros and Cons of “Seen” feature
Instagram allows users to see the message status in Instagram Messenger. Here are some advantages and disadvantages of using this feature:
Pros of “Seen” in your DMs
Better Communication: The seen feature ensures better communication between two users by gauging the response time and providing instant information. It also indicates whether someone has seen your messages and shown interest in the conversation or not. Also, check the How to See Unsent Messages on Instagram.
Transparency: It increases transparency in the conversation by telling you whether the person has viewed your messages and solve the problem of delayed response. This way, you can determine whether to wait for their reply or send another message to provoke a response.
Satisfaction: It gives you a sense of emotional satisfaction when you know that your message or piece of information has been seen by the desired person, client, or partner.
Conversation Tracking: You can know when you sent the message and when the person viewed it. It gives you a sense of tracking whether the person is engaged in a conversation with you or deliberately ignoring you.
Cons of “Seen” in your Instagram DMs
Misunderstandings: The Seen feature can create serious misunderstandings as it only tells someone read Instagram messages. However, it doesn’t indicate they completely understood your messages or information.
Privacy Concerns: Some people might not like the ”Seen” and last seen features and prefer privacy on the platform. Although this feature provides transparency in conversation, it can be turned off. Turning off this feature will also hamper your ability to see Seen under your messages.
Pressure to Reply Instantly: When you see someone’s message in your inbox, it forces you to reply immediately so as not to seem rude or uninterested. It require minimal amount of mobile data.
Discomfort about no reply: When someone on Instagram views your message and doesn’t reply as they might be busy or stranded in a traffic jam. It might create unrest or doubts in your mind like: “Is she deliberately ignoring me? Or Why is she taking so long to respond? However, the reason for the delay could be something genuine.
Turning off the Read receipts for messages on Instagram
If you like more privacy and don’t want to use the seen on Instagram feature, you can follow these steps to disable read receipt on Instagram when you message the person.
- Open Instagram app and tap the three horizontal tiles option
- Tap on the “Settings” option
- In the settings, tap on the “Settings and Privacy” option
- Tap on the “Message and Story replies” option
- Then tap the “Activity status” and turn off the “Show activity status” toggle
You have turned off the receipts read on Instagram. Remember that both the sender and recipient won’t be able to check the “Seen” status after disabling this option when they send a message on Instagram.
Understanding the terms ‘’seen’’ and ‘’sent’’ in Instagram messages
‘’Seen’’ on Instagram
- It is displayed when other side has read your messages
- It is shown till the other person doesn’t reply to you
- It is displayed in the conversation just below the last message
‘’Sent’’ on Instagram
- It is displayed when the messages you sent has been delivered to the other person and show green dot
- Once the person reads your message, it disappears and shows the “seen” status
- It is not shown inside the DM. Rather, it is shown on the DM list on the person’s profile
FAQs
Can I see if my friends have read my messages on Instagram?
Yes, you can check whether your friend has read your message or not by following these steps:
- Launch the Instagram application on your mobile and tap the message icon on the profile page to access your Direct Messages list
- Now, open the conversation with your friend
- Look for the term “seen” or “seen just now” under your sent message. If any of these terms appear, it means your friend has opened or viewed your message.
What does “Sent” mean on Instagram?
- It is displayed when your sent message has been delivered to the other person
- Once the person reads your message, it disappears and shows the “seen” status
- It is not shown inside the DM. Rather, it is shown on the DM list on the person’s profile
Can I hide when I’ve seen a message on Instagram?
When you open a message it tells the sender that you’ve read messages. If you want to enjoy more privacy and want to view Instagram direct messages without letting others know, you can turn off the seen feature using Instagram app:
- Open the Instagram app and tap the three horizontal tiles option near the profile picture
- Tap on the “Settings” option
- In the settings, tap on the “Settings and Privacy” option
- Tap on the “Message and Story replies” option
- Tap the “Activity status” and turn off the “Show activity status” toggle
- You have turned off the seen receipts option on Insta
Can I read messages without marking them as ‘Seen’?
Yes, you can preview a message and read your Instagram direct message without marking it as ‘Seen’ by long-pressing on the message in your inbox list without fully opening it and marking it “seen”.
Conclusion
Instagram DM’s “Seen” feature enhances communication by providing instant feedback and accountability, encourages engagement, and facilitates effective conversations. This feature allows individuals and businesses to build stronger connections and make the most of their Instagram activity and messaging experience.
I hope this guide will be enough for you to learn what does seen mean on Instagram. Cheers!
