Mastering the Art of Enjoying Instagram Stories
Do you ever find yourself scrolling through your Instagram feed, only to quickly skip past the Stories without batting an eye? It’s time to change that and embrace the captivating world of Instagram Stories. This guide will show you how to make the most out of this engaging feature and discover the hidden gems within.
Put on Your Story-Telling Hat
When it comes to Instagram Stories, simply watching isn’t enough. Immerse yourself in the experience by actively engaging with the content. Let your creative spirit shine and start crafting your own captivating stories. Share your unique perspective with filters, stickers, and text. Show the world what makes you, you!
A Glimpse into a World of Discoveries
Instagram Stories offer an incredible opportunity to explore new horizons and connect with people from all walks of life. Discover the world through the eyes of others. Take a moment to dive into the vast array of stories available. You never know what fascinating tidbits or inspiring moments you might come across!
Feel the Thrill of Live Stories
Live Stories are the heartbeat of Instagram. They provide an instant connection to the people and events shaping the world around us. Tune in to live broadcasts and feel the excitement as events unfold in real-time. Take part in the action by leaving comments and sharing your thoughts. The power of being in the moment is right at your fingertips!
Engagement is Key
Instagram Stories thrive on interaction. Like, comment, and send direct messages to let creators know you appreciate their content. Interact with your friends and followers by reacting to their stories. Show them you’re invested by sharing your thoughts and feelings. The more engaged you become, the more you’ll enjoy the experience!
Embrace the Element of Surprise
Instagram Stories are like a box of treasures waiting to be explored. Don’t be afraid to embrace the unknown and let the stories unravel before your eyes. Discover something new every day, and be open to unexpected adventures. Let the element of surprise bring joy and excitement to your day!
So, the next time you find yourself mindlessly scrolling past Instagram Stories, remember that you’re missing out on a world of creativity, connection, and excitement. Take the leap, engage with the stories, and unlock the endless possibilities that await you!
Even though Stories has become incredibly popular, many people still have questions about how to use the interface. Instagram isn’t always the most user-friendly app, especially when new features like Stories are introduced. Sometimes it’s not clear how everything works. In this article, I’ll show you how to interact with an Instagram Story.
Instagram Stories: Not a Fan
Let’s start with the bad news: you can’t “like” an Instagram story.
Regular Instagram posts work a lot like Facebook posts (no surprise, since the same company owns both). You can show your approval by liking a post or a picture. On Facebook, you can tap the thumbs-up icon, and on Instagram, you can tap the heart symbol. However, Instagram Stories work differently. For some reason, Instagram doesn’t want you to be able to “like” stories. Maybe it’s because the story will disappear eventually, along with its likes. Instead, if you want to engage with the creator of a Story, Instagram wants you to send them a personal message.
Now, I understand that this might be a bit inconvenient and annoying (because it is), but it aligns with the essence of Instagram Stories. Stories give us a more intimate glimpse into other people’s lives. By requiring us to message them to express our thoughts, Instagram is encouraging more connection between users.
Since you can’t “like” a story, I’m going to tell you how to send a message to show your appreciation instead.
- Tap on a story in your Instagram feed to open it.
- At the bottom of the Story screen, tap the “Send Message” text.
- You can send a quick emoticon or type in a message.
- Tap “Send” and your message will be sent directly to the user you’re viewing.
Unlike regular Instagram messages, which are visible to the public, Instagram Stories messages are sent directly to the person you’ve messaged. They’re also attached to the story you messaged about, so they’ll disappear within 24 hours along with the story.
How to Stop People From Messaging You
On the flip side, if you post a lot of popular stories, you might receive an overwhelming number of messages, or perhaps there’s a follower who constantly bugs you. Whether they’re admirers seeking attention or just plain annoying, the outcome is the same: nobody wants to be bothered all day long. If you’re receiving too many messages or simply don’t want to hear from someone, you can block them, but only if your profile is set to private. Here’s how to block an annoying user.
- Go to your profile and swipe right to reveal the “Settings” icon, which looks like a little gear.
- Tap on “Privacy”.
- Tap on “Account Privacy”.
- Toggle the “Private Account” setting to enable it.
- Now go to your list of followers and find the person you want to block.
- Tap the three-dot icon next to their name.
- A message will pop-up with the option to “Remove”. Click on it, and the person is gone.
To the person you’ve just removed, your account will now look like the picture below. However, if you switch back to having a public profile, the person will be able to follow you again without a request. But if you keep your account private, the person must request access, and you can choose to ignore it. Hurray!
