How do you send a chain message on Instagram?

To send a chain message on Instagram, you essentially want to send the same message to multiple people. Instagram offers a few methods to achieve this, ranging from creating group chats to forwarding existing messages or sending individual direct messages to each recipient.

Sending Chain Messages on Instagram: An Overview

A "chain message" on Instagram can be interpreted as sending a consistent message to a select group of people, often with the intent of sharing information or prompting a response. The most common and efficient ways to do this are by creating a group chat, forwarding an existing message, or manually sending the message to multiple individual direct message (DM) threads.

Method 1: Create a Group Chat

Creating a group chat is the most efficient way to send a single message to multiple people simultaneously, as all recipients will be part of the same conversation.

Steps to Create a Group

1. Open Direct Messages: Tap the message icon (often resembling a paper airplane or speech bubble) in the top-right corner of your Instagram feed to access your direct messages.
2. Start a New Message: Tap the new message icon (usually a square with a pen or a plus sign) in the top right.
3. Select Recipients: Begin typing the usernames of the people you want to include in your chain message. As you type, suggestions will appear. Tap on each person's name to select them. You can select multiple individuals.
4. Create Group Chat: Once you've selected all desired recipients, tap Chat or Create Group at the top or bottom of the screen.
5. Compose and Send Your Message: In the new group chat, type your message in the text box. After composing your message, press send. Everyone in the group will receive the message instantly.

Tip: Group chats allow for ongoing discussion, as all members can see and respond to each other's messages.

Method 2: Forward an Existing Message

If the "chain message" you wish to send is an existing message you've already sent or received in another direct message, you can easily forward it.

How to Forward a Message

1. Access the Message: Go to your direct messages by tapping the message icon.
2. Locate the Message: Find the conversation containing the message you want to forward.
3. Hold and Forward: Tap and hold on the specific message until a menu appears. Select Forward or the arrow icon.
4. Select New Recipients: A list of your recent chats and contacts will appear. You can select multiple individual chats or an existing group chat to forward the message to.
5. Send: Tap Send next to each recipient or group you wish to forward it to.

Method 3: Send Individually to Multiple Recipients

This method involves sending the same message to each person separately. This ensures that recipients do not see who else received the message, offering more privacy.

Steps for Individual Sending

1. Access Direct Messages: First, go to your messages by tapping the message icon (paper airplane or speech bubble) in the top-right corner.
2. Start a New Message: Once your direct messages open up, tap the new message icon (square with a pen or a plus sign).
3. Select First Recipient: Choose the first account you wish to send the message to.
4. Compose and Send: In the chat window, type your message. Then, press send to privately send it to that account.
5. Repeat for Others: To send the same message to other individuals, you would repeat this process for each desired recipient. You can copy the message text before sending to quickly paste it into new chats.

Best Practices for Sending Chain Messages

• Consider Recipient Preference: Not everyone appreciates being added to group chats, especially for non-urgent messages.
• Respect Privacy: When using individual DMs, each recipient receives the message without knowing who else received it. Group chats, however, display all members to each other.
• Avoid Spamming: Be mindful of the frequency and relevance of your messages. Sending too many unsolicited messages can be perceived as spam.
• Keep it Concise: Chain messages are often most effective when they are clear and to the point.
• Use Credible Links: If your message includes links, ensure they are to reputable sources.

Comparing Methods for Chain Messages

Method	Description	Pros	Cons
Group Chat	Creates a single conversation for multiple users.	Efficient, all recipients see each other, fosters discussion.	All recipients must be comfortable being in a group; group limits.
Forwarding	Shares an existing message from one chat to another.	Quick for sharing received content; can be sent to multiple individual chats or groups.	Requires an existing message to forward; less suitable for composing new, unique "chain" content from scratch.
Individual DMs	Sending the same message to multiple people separately.	Personalized touch, recipients don't see each other; greater privacy.	Time-consuming and less efficient for many recipients; no collective discussion.

For more detailed information on Instagram's direct messaging features, you can refer to the Instagram Help Center.