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    Here’s how to ‘unsend’ direct messages on Instagram

    It’s actually possible!

    Jenny Proudfoot's avatar
    By Jenny Proudfoot
    Published 3 February 2017 In How Tos

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    It’s actually possible!

    We’ve all felt that instant pang of regret after sending a message in the heat of the moment – be it to a friend, boyfriend, parent or boss.

    For too long we’ve just had to live with text remorse, waiting for that blue double tick to appear on our screens to notify us that the regretful message in question has been read.

    Tempted by the new iPhone 9? Find out all you need to know here.

    unsend button

    Then it’s just a waiting game - killing time until we get the inevitable follow up phone call, telling us that we’ve either been fired, dumped or disowned.

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    unsend button

    We’ve been searching for a way to combat this problem since apps began but until recently, there wasn’t a way out, with no way to delete our embarrassing messages.

    Now, Instagram has answered our prayers, making it possible to revoke regretful direct messages, removing them from our conversations forever. Yes, really.

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    The technique is easy. You simply go to your Instagram conversations, select the message that you would like to unsend and hold down your finger down on the message. An information box will pop up asking ‘Unsend message?’ and you press accept.

    Yes, it’s really that simple.

    This news comes just days after it was announced that an ‘unsend’ button was in the pipeline for WhatsApp.

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    By popular demand Whatsapp is said to be working on the creation of an ‘unsend’ button, with the new feature expected to be tested in the beta version of the next update.

    It has also been suggested that the app might introduce an additional ‘edit message’ button, allowing us to amend our drunk texts or correct our typos the next day.

    unsend button

    The announcements have had an overwhelmingly positive response.

    Now all we need is for Facebook to get onboard with the ‘unsend’ button movement and we can all breathe a sigh of relief, knowing that we’ve been spared a lot of humiliation. Still, these new updates are definitely a step in the right direction.

    Find out more: Apple's new iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max and iPhone XC.

    Jenny Proudfoot
    Jenny Proudfoot
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    Contributing Features Editor

    Jenny Proudfoot is an award-winning journalist, specialising in lifestyle, culture, entertainment, international development and politics. After working at Marie Claire UK for seven years - rising from intern to Features Editor - she is now a freelance contributor to the News and Features section.

    In 2021, Jenny was named as a winner on the PPA's '30 under 30' list, and was also listed as a rising star in journalism.

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