Guide: React to an Instagram message
This page: https://commentwatchdog.com/help/messages/react-to-an-instagram-message
Topic: Messages
Time: about 2 minutes
Who can do it: Anyone on your team
Author: https://anantgupta.xyz (Anant Gupta, founder of CommentWatchDog)
Start in the app: https://app.commentwatchdog.com/en/inbox
Result when done: You can acknowledge a message with an emoji instead of writing a reply.
Context: Instagram lets a page react to a message with an emoji. It is the quickest way to close a friendly exchange without another notification, and it is removed as easily as it is added.

Before you start:
1. Reactions are an Instagram feature; Messenger conversations do not have them here.
2. A reaction is visible to the customer, like any reaction on Instagram.
3. Removing a reaction removes it for them too.

Steps:
Step 1 of 3: Open an Instagram conversation.
Where: The Instagram account, then Messages, then the conversation.
Link: https://app.commentwatchdog.com/en/inbox (Open the app)
Screenshot: https://commentwatchdog.com/media/shots/messages-ig.en.webp (An Instagram conversation.)
Screenshot: https://commentwatchdog.com/media/shots/messages-ig-phone.en.webp (The same on a phone.)
You should see: The thread, with each message ready to be reacted to.

Step 2 of 3: React with an emoji.
Where: The react control on a message, or in the More sheet on a phone. Pick the emoji.
Screenshot: https://commentwatchdog.com/media/shots/messages-ig.en.webp (React with an emoji, on a message.)
Screenshot: https://commentwatchdog.com/media/shots/messages-ig-phone.en.webp (React with an emoji, in the More sheet.)
You should see: The emoji appears on the message for both of you.

Step 3 of 3: Remove it if you change your mind.
Where: The same control, then Remove reaction.
Screenshot: https://commentwatchdog.com/media/shots/messages-ig.en.webp (The same control removes it.)
Screenshot: https://commentwatchdog.com/media/shots/messages-ig-phone.en.webp (The same item removes it.)
You should see: The emoji disappears from the message on both sides.

If something is off:
Problem: There is no react control
Fix: The conversation is a Messenger one. Reactions are available on Instagram conversations.
Problem: The reaction did not appear
Fix: Meta refused it, usually because the message is too old or was deleted.

Common questions:
Question: Does the customer see the emoji reaction I add to their message?
Answer: Yes. A reaction is visible to the customer like any reaction on Instagram, and it appears on the message for both of you.
Question: Can I undo a reaction on an Instagram message?
Answer: Yes. Open the same react control and choose Remove reaction. The emoji disappears from the message on both sides.
Question: Where is the react option on a phone?
Answer: In the More sheet on the message. On a computer it is the react control on the message itself.

Related guides:
- Reply, attach a photo, send a GIF, record a voice note: https://commentwatchdog.com/help/messages/reply-attach-a-photo-send-a-gif-record-a-voice-note
- Where messages come from: https://commentwatchdog.com/help/messages/where-messages-come-from
- The 24-hour reply window: https://commentwatchdog.com/help/messages/the-24-hour-reply-window

Plain text of this guide: https://commentwatchdog.com/help/messages/react-to-an-instagram-message.md
All guides for assistants: https://commentwatchdog.com/help/llms.txt