While you watch someone’s story, tap a reaction at the bottom, or write in the field that says Message and their name. That reply is private: it goes to your chat with them. To reply where everyone watching can read it, tap the speech bubble next to the field.

Show steps for

React to a story

React to a story in the app

  1. Tap one of the three reactions at the bottom: ❤️, 😂 or 🔥.
  2. A row of all seven opens: ❤️ 😂 🔥 😮 😢 👏 💯. Tap another to change your reaction.

React to a story on the website

Click the heart at the bottom of the story. Click it again to take it back.

You give one reaction per story. Tapping a different one replaces it, and tapping yours again takes it away.

Reply privately

  1. Tap the field at the bottom that says Message and the person’s name.
  2. Type your reply, or tap the sticker button at the end of the field to send a sticker.
  3. Tap the send arrow.

A message at the top says it was sent, and that only they can see it. The reply shows in your chat with a small picture of the story. If you haven’t chatted before and they don’t follow you, it lands in their message requests.

If it says You can’t message and their name, they only take messages from some people. See How do I choose who can message me?

Reply publicly

Reply publicly in the app

  1. Tap the speech bubble next to the field. The number on it counts the public replies.
  2. Public replies opens. Type in Add a public reply…, up to 500 characters.
  3. Tap the send arrow.

The list shows every public reply, newest first. Show older replies loads the rest.

Reply on the website

  1. Click the box at the bottom that says Reply to and the person’s name.
  2. Type your reply and click Send. Reply sent tells you it worked.

A reply from the website is a public reply.

Everyone who can see the story can read its public replies: the person, and anyone watching, who also sees the two newest over the story while they type.

Delete a reply

In the app, press and hold a public reply you wrote and tap Delete. On your own story, you can delete anyone’s public reply the same way.

A private reply is a message. Delete it in the chat like any other message.

Public replies go with the story when it disappears after 24 hours.

Good to know

  • The person sees who reacted and which reaction they chose.
  • In the Stories tab, swiping a card to the right reacts with ❤️.
  • You can’t reply to your own story.