Instagram Down? Users Unable To Send Or Receive Direct Messages

A major technical glitch has struck Instagram, with thousands of users unable to send or access direct messages (DMs) on the platform. Reports indicate that the issues began around 5:14 PM on Tuesday, as tracked by Downdetector, a service that monitors outages based on user-submitted reports. While over 2,000 users have logged complaints so far, the actual number of affected individuals may be much higher.

Many users have taken to other social platforms like X (formerly Twitter) to vent their frustration and see if others are facing similar problems. One X user posted, "Ignored your DM? No, I didn't!! Instagram is down!!" Others echoed the sentiment, with one user asking, "Is it me, or is everyone else also not able to send DMs on Instagram?"

Another user on X reported, "Messages aren't delivering and show 'failed to deliver' after a few minutes. Anyone else experiencing this?"

The disruption is ongoing, with Instagram and parent company Meta yet to release an official statement. Users are encouraged to check Downdetector and the Instagram status page for updates as many turn to alternative social media platforms in the meantime.

Tech Glitches on Instagram

This isn't the first time Instagram has experienced a significant outage. On October 15, Instagram and Facebook faced a widespread disruption affecting thousands in the U.S. At its peak, more than 12,000 Facebook users and over 5,000 Instagram users reported issues.

Earlier this year, a technical fault caused a global outage on both platforms, impacting hundreds of thousands for over two hours. Downdetector recorded over 550,000 disruption reports for Facebook and around 92,000 for Instagram during the peak of that incident.