The action of sharing a direct message from one Instagram user to another is known as forwarding. When a user forwards content, they are essentially passing along a message, image, video, or other type of content received in a private conversation to a different individual or group of recipients. For instance, a user might receive a funny meme from a friend and then share that meme with another group chat they are a part of.
This functionality provides a simple method for users to disseminate information and content of interest quickly across the platform. It facilitates the sharing of engaging material, contributes to the organic spread of trends, and allows users to easily share interesting discoveries or relevant information with their network. Historically, this feature evolved from basic message sharing functions to its current integrated form, emphasizing ease of use and rapid distribution within the Instagram ecosystem.