Glossary
Instagram automation glossary
Plain-English definitions of the terms you meet when automating Instagram DMs, from private replies and the 24-hour window to rate limits and follow gates.
Automation
- What is comment-to-DM on Instagram?What is comment-to-DM on Instagram? How a keyword comment triggers an automatic DM, the Meta rules behind it, and an example you can copy.
- What is a global trigger on Instagram?What is a global trigger on Instagram? How one account-wide keyword answers on every post, reel, story and DM, with examples and plan limits.
- What is a follow gate on Instagram?What is a follow gate on Instagram? How follow-gated DMs check the follow before sending the link, a template, and when to use one.
- What is a keyword trigger on Instagram?What is a keyword trigger on Instagram? How a comment or DM keyword starts an automation, how to choose good keywords, and examples.
Meta platform
- What is a private reply on Instagram?What is a private reply on Instagram? Meta's rules for DMing a commenter: one message per comment, 7 days, 750 an hour, and where it lands.
- What is the Instagram messaging window?What is the Instagram messaging window? Which actions open it, why it usually lasts 24 hours, and what businesses can send once it closes.
- What is the human agent tag on Instagram?What is the human agent tag on Instagram? How HUMAN_AGENT lets a person reply up to 7 days later, when it is allowed, and why bots can't use it.
- What is a story mention on Instagram?What is a story mention on Instagram? How tagging works, when Meta notifies your account, and how to auto-reply to every mention.
- What is an Instagram API rate limit?What is an Instagram API rate limit? Meta's limits on private replies and DMs, what happens on a viral post, and how tools queue the overflow.
- What is the Instagram Graph API?What is the Instagram Graph API? Meta's official API for professional accounts explained: what it does, the two login setups, and why it matters.
- What are Instagram ice breakers?What are Instagram ice breakers? The tappable FAQ prompts in a new DM chat: Meta's limits, examples by business type and how to set them up.
- What are message requests on Instagram?What are message requests on Instagram? Why DMs from non-followers land in Requests, what that means for auto-DMs, and how to make sure they're seen.
- What is an Instagram professional account?What is an Instagram professional account? Business vs creator, why DM automation needs one, and whether you still need a Facebook Page.
Marketing
- What is an active contact in ManyChat?What is an active contact in ManyChat? How per-contact billing works, ManyChat's tiers and overage as of October 2026, and a worked cost example.
- What is a lead magnet on Instagram?What is a lead magnet on Instagram? How free guides, checklists and codes are delivered by DM, with an example and how to collect emails.
- What is a DM funnel on Instagram?What is a DM funnel on Instagram? The stages from comment to sale inside direct messages, a worked example, and Meta's rules to plan around.
- What is opt-in for Instagram DMs?What is opt-in for Instagram DMs? Meta's consent rules for messaging, what a comment does and doesn't permit, and how to collect emails properly.
- What is conversion rate for Instagram DMs?What is conversion rate for Instagram DMs? The formula, a worked funnel example from comment to sale, and how to measure each step.