Instagram Direct Messaging Limits and Best Practices

Understanding Instagram’s Message Limits to Unknown People in 2025

Instagram has taken significant steps to protect users from spam, harassment, and unwanted messages, especially from strangers. As of 2025, Instagram’s direct messaging policies have been refined to limit how many messages one can send to people they do not follow, enhancing user safety and control over their inboxes. Here’s everything to know about these limits and how they impact messaging to unknown users.

One Message Limit for Initial Contact

Instagram now allows users to send only one initial message request to someone who doesn’t follow them. This means if a person you don’t follow wants to message you, they can send just one text-only message request. To send more messages or media like photos, videos, or voice notes, the recipient must first accept the message request.

This change is part of Instagram’s effort to reduce unwanted and unsolicited content circulating in direct messages, preventing scenarios where users receive spammy or harassing messages without consent.

Text-Only First Message

The very first message request sent to unknown users can contain text only. Instagram blocks sending images, videos, or voice messages in this initial message, reducing potential exposure to inappropriate or unsolicited media.

By restricting media in the first message, Instagram ensures users' safety and comfort, mitigating abuse cases that have often targeted public figures, women, and younger users.

Message Requests and User Control

Messages from strangers go into a separate Message Requests folder in the DM tab, allowing the recipient to review without immediately opening the message. Users can then choose to accept, decline, report, or block the sender, giving full control over their inbox interactions.

Additionally, Instagram enables users to customize who can send them message requests through privacy settings, such as allowing requests from everyone, just people they follow, or no one at all.

Daily Messaging Limits and Spam Prevention

Instagram does not publicly disclose an exact daily limit for sending direct messages, but based on data from 2025, here is what is generally observed:

1. New Accounts (Under 30 Days): Typically allowed to send 10-30 DMs per day. Instagram closely monitors new accounts to prevent spam and abuse, so limits are tight.
2. Growing Accounts (30-180 Days): Daily limits usually increase to about 40-70 DMs. These accounts are beginning to build trust and engagement.
3. Established Accounts (Over 180 Days): Can safely send 80-100 DMs daily. Instagram views these accounts as trusted based on consistent genuine activity.
4. Verified Accounts: May send up to 100-200 DMs per day, but Instagram still monitors their activity closely to prevent spam.

Other Important Considerations:

1. Instagram uses a complex algorithm considering follower ratio, engagement, message response rate, and time gaps between messages to determine your personal DM limits.
2. Rapidly sending many messages in quick succession increases the chance of being flagged as spam. It’s advised to pace messages throughout the day.
3. Violating Instagram’s rules by sending mass unsolicited messages can lead to temporary blocks or account restrictions that reduce future limits.

Best Practices to Avoid Getting Flagged

1. Start conservatively, especially with new accounts, sending about 30-50 messages per day initially.
2. Ensure messages are personalized and avoid generic mass messaging.
3. Space out your messages over time rather than sending them all at once.
4. Keep a clean account history and avoid frequent violations.

How to Protect Yourself from Spam Messages

Users can take proactive steps to reduce unwanted DMs:

1. Adjust privacy settings to restrict who can send message requests.
2. Limit or turn off message requests from strangers.
3. Restrict who can add you to group chats to only people you follow.
4. Use the Report Harmful Content feature for any spam or abuse received.

Conclusion

Instagram’s messaging limits to unknown people in 2025 reflect its commitment to safer and more meaningful interactions. By allowing just one text-only initial message request and providing robust user controls, Instagram protects users from spam, harassment, and unsolicited media.

For businesses or marketers, respecting these limits and focusing on authentic engagement is the best way to maintain account health and trust. For everyday users, these changes offer greater peace of mind and a cleaner, more secure messaging experience