Instagram Users Can Now Receive Message Requests Only from Verified Accounts

Meta Verified subscribers on Instagram can now restrict their DM requests to other verified users only. This feature aims to filter out junk requests and ensure that only serious queries come through.

Verified IG profiles now have the option to restrict their message requests to verified users only. Verified users include notable accounts identified by Instagram’s team or paying users who’ve signed up for Meta’s 'Meta Verified' program. This setting helps in filtering out bot profiles and unwanted messages.

The DM restriction feature could be appealing if you've had enough of bot profiles adding you to random chats or receiving badly worded marriage proposals in your inbox. It helps in filtering out junk requests and ensures that only serious queries come through, making it valuable for users who receive a high volume of DMs.

The new Instagram feature for Meta Verified users is similar to a feature added for X Premium subscribers last year, which also allows paying users to restrict DMs to other paying members only. However, X also removed verification from all non-paying accounts, meaning only DMs from paying users are received. Recently, X reactivated X premium for free for accounts with over 2,500 verified followers, making it quite similar to Instagram's approach.

While the DM restriction feature aims to filter out junk requests, it doesn't prevent scammers from also paying for Meta Verified and reaching your inbox. Therefore, its effectiveness in ensuring only serious queries come through remains questionable. The value of this feature also depends on the volume of DMs a user receives and their personal utility.