I find it funny how every single service builds out a community infrastructure, complete with messaging for near-synchronous and more async communication.

I've always been a fan of distributed resiliency but when it comes to basic communications, I don't have the time or motivation to hunt down the service and method of communication within that service some person chooses to use. I much prefer ubiquitous communication, at least from a user interaction stand-point.

Older messenger applications often supported handfuls to dozens of popular communication systems so you could interact with one touch point/interface, and coukd still benefit from the fact the marketplace was forcing some competition while your communication wouldn't be strangled by some single private entity's policies or actions.

Every social network application expands until it has the features of Facebook, or is replaced by ones which can.

For myself and others in my social circle (mid 30's Americans), we'll often comment on something in each others' Instagram Stories and have a casual chat. Usually these are quick conversations, and longer ones are on some other pure messaging platform.

I used igdm. Until I stopped using ig itself, several weeks ago. Like I did FB many, many years ago. I didn't close down the accounts either. I just stopped using them. Stopping that, and a good clear out of bookmarks [deleted], mail-subscriptions etc has forced me to restart my onlininess (save for very basic email). Feel much better, and I'd like to start the next year 'clean'.

As a 22YO, I use it just as much as messenger. The generation a under me uses insta DMs even more.

It's easiest to share instagram posts via instagram DM to friends.