Instagram comes with ‘silent mode’ that replies to messages automatically

Instagram has introduced a ‘silent mode’ that turns off notifications and automatically informs incoming messages that the notification has not arrived. The function is not yet coming to the Benelux.

Meta calls the Instagram feature Quiet Mode. The function can be turned on in the settings, but teenagers on the platform who are still active late at night will automatically receive a signal to turn it on. It can also be scheduled so that users are not notified by the platform’s app at certain times. When users receive messages, Instagram automatically sends a message that the user has silent mode on and will therefore probably not see the message soon.

If users turn off the function, the app will provide a summary of missed notifications to quickly get up-to-date again. The status indicator on their own profile also shows that a user is in silent mode. The function should reduce distractions during, for example, studying or driving, the company says. Phones have been able to suppress notifications for much longer, but Instagram has put it in the app.

Quiet Mode therefore seems to be one of the measures taken by Instagram after internal research by Meta showed that Instagram has a bad influence on teenagers. The feature will initially be available starting this week in English-only countries such as the US, Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. The feature is coming to more countries, but the company isn’t saying when it will happen.