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Instagram could soon let you send direct messages on desktop

The reported feature would look a lot like Messenger for desktop, according to tipster Jane Manchun Wong.

Abrar Al-Heeti Technology Reporter
Abrar Al-Heeti is a technology reporter for CNET, with an interest in phones, streaming, internet trends, entertainment, pop culture and digital accessibility. She's also worked for CNET's video, culture and news teams. She graduated with bachelor's and master's degrees in journalism from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Though Illinois is home, she now loves San Francisco -- steep inclines and all.
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Instagram Direct, currently only available on mobile, could soon be rolling out to desktop. 

Graphic by Pixabay/Illustration by CNET

You may soon be able to use Instagram Direct to ping one or more people on desktop. Tipster Jane Manchun Wong tweeted about the rumored feature on Tuesday, along with screenshots of what Direct for desktop could look like. 

According to Wong, Direct for desktop web would resemble its Messenger counterpart by showing a list of users and messages on the left side and individual conversations on the other side of the page. Users will also be able to open up another tab on the right to see message information such as a list of members in a conversation, according to the screenshots.  

Currently, Instagram's web version allows users to scroll through their feeds and carry out other mobile app functions such as commenting and liking, but they can't yet send direct messages. 

Instagram didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.