There are so many symbols and icons on Instagram that it is virtually impossible for users– even the most active ones– to keep a track of the newer stuff coming up. Let alone the new features, sometimes, users aren’t even aware of the existence of the old features, regardless of how helpful those features are. Let’s take an example, do you know what does the flag mean on Instagram DMs? I bet you don’t; why else would you be reading an article on it?
Oh, and I’m not blaming you for not being able to keep up with all the new changes happening or not knowing how to use the old features. Because even though Instagram is one of the most user-friendly social media platforms out there, navigating your way through the app can get tricky sometimes. No worries though. Articles like this one do help in making a difference. So, if you want to know what does the flag mean on Instagram DMs, keep scrolling!
Find Out What Does The Flag Mean On Instagram DMs Here | Meaning Of The Flag Symbol Decoded!
Now that I’ve let you know it’s okay to not know everything about Instagram, what does it mean when you flag someone’s chat on Instagram? Does it mean that you’re reporting them because they violate Instagram’s guidelines? Does it mean that you’re restricting their access to your profile?? Ahh no, flagging someone on Instagram doesn’t mean any of these things. If you want to know what does the flag mean on Instagram DMs, you need to scroll till the end of this post.
Meaning Of Flag On Instagram DMs

Do you remember the star feature of Instagram? I’m talking about the feature that would let you put a star on someone’s chat because either the person is important or you don’t want the chat to get lost in the sea of all other conversations. Yeah, Instagram removed the star icon.
But now, the star feature is represented by a flag!! Flagging someone’s chat is the same as starring it to mark it as important! The icon has changed but the function is still the same.
You must be wondering, why should you use the flag feature in the first place. Well, you see, once you flag a chat it will be marked important. If you’re someone who tends to get a lot of messages and message requests, a particular chat or conversation that should be on the top of your priority list can easily get lost among others. But, once you flag it, Instagram will know that it needs to be prioritized.
This means you will never miss a single DM notification from that person. You will be able to find the chat in question easily and not have to scroll through a lot.
How To Flag An Instagram DM?

Now that you know what does the flag mean on Instagram DMs, I’m sure you want to know how to flag an Instagram direct message. Follow the below-mentioned steps to do so:
- Open Instagram.
- Tap on the paper plane/ messenger icon at the top right corner of the screen. Alternatively, you can swipe left from the main home feed to open the DM section.
- Tap on the username of the person whose chat you want to flag.
- At the top right corner of the screen, you’ll have the flag icon.
- Tap on it and you’ll notice the icon turn black. This denotes that the chat has been flagged.
And, that’s it! The chat that you’ve just flagged can easily get filtered out using the flagged messages filter.
Final Words
Alright, people! This is what does the flag mean on Instagram DMs! In this article, I walked you through the accurate meaning of flagging someone’s chat on Instagram, why doing so can be helpful, and how to do it if need be! In short, I walked you through everything you needed to know about the feature! But, if you happen to have any doubts about flagging, feel free to drop them in the comments below and I’ll get back to you ASAP!
Can I pin a chat on Instagram?
From your Instagram profile, select a post on which you want to pin a comment. Select View all comments. Scroll down or up to find an Instagram comment to pin. Swipe left on the comment you want to pin.
Why is someone pinned on Instagram messages?
A pinned comment is a comment that appears at the top of a post or in the comment summary that appears in the feed. When someone pins someone else’s comment, Instagram notifies the author that their comments have been highlighted in the post. This option to pin comments aims to help manage comments.
Does Instagram have private chat?
An end-to-end encrypted chat on Instagram is intended just for you and the person you’re talking to. Note that this is only available in chats with one other account. Tap or in the top right of Feed.
Are Instagram chats deleted?
Once you delete a conversation, it will no longer be visible in your inbox. Keep in mind that this only deletes the conversation for you, and that it will still appear for other people included in the conversation.
How long do Instagram chats last?
For Instagram, the company says it usually takes around 90 days to completely remove data. But security researchers have found similar issues with other services in the past, including Twitter, which retained direct messages between users for years after they were supposedly deleted.