Instagram has a message feature in its app through which your contacts can send you a direct message. Although users who you don’t follow can also send a direct message but these messages appear as MESSAGE REQUESTS.
You can either accept a message request or decline it and also block the accounts. Message requests are not marked as seen until you accept it.
You can also turn off message requests so you will receive only the messages from your contacts and to do this:
- Open your instagram app
- Go to your ‘Profile‘ at the lower corner of the Instagram interface
- Click on the options icon at the top edge
- Click ‘Settings‘ below
- Go to ‘Privacy‘
- Select ‘Messages‘
- Click ‘Others on Instagram‘
- And Choose ‘Don’t Receive Requests‘
Now You will no longer receive message requests.
I hope this tutorial is able to guide you and if you have any issues, kindly let us know in the comment box below. Thanks.