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  • You can easily react to an Instagram story by swiping up from the bottom of your screen or tapping the message bar.
  • You can either type a message, send a GIF, or use a quick reaction, which allows you to respond to the story with a pre-selected emoji.
  • What you send as a reaction appears as a DM to the other person, where you can continue the interaction.
  • Visit Business Insider's Tech Reference library for more stories.

If you're new to Instagram, or you've just never explored stories, you may be wondering how exactly the reaction option works.

Instagram stories only last for 24 hours, so if you want to react, you'll have to move relatively quickly. 

With that in mind, here's how to react to someone's Instagram story, and what happens after you do.

How to react to an Instagram story

There are a few different ways you can react to a story. Either way, the process is extremely simple:

1. When you see a story you want to react to, tap the message bar at the bottom. Alternatively, you can just swipe up from the bottom of your screen.

Tap the message bar or swipe up to see your reaction options. Devon Delfino/Business Insider

2. From there, you'll be able to choose from one of three ways to respond:

  • Quick reaction: This allows you to quickly react to a story through a collection of pre-selected emojis presented on your screen. Currently, the emojis available are tears of joy, surprised, heart eyes, crying face, clapping hands, fire, party popper and 100.
Quick reactions are a speedy, no-fuss way to respond to a story. Devon Delfino/Business Insider
  • Written message: You will be able to send a written message by typing it into the message bar.
  • GIF or sticker: By selecting the "GIF" icon in the message bar, you can include a sticker of search for a GIF via Giphy. 
Stickers are another way respond to Instagram stories. Devon Delfino/Business Insider

However you choose to react to a story, it appears to the other person as a direct message. That means that they are able to like your reaction, as well as reply back to continue the interaction.

The conversation continues in DMs. Devon Delfino/Business Insider

Related coverage from Tech Reference:

Devon Delfino Devon Delfino is a Brooklyn-based freelance journalist specializing in personal finance, culture, politics, and identity. Her work has been featured in publications such as The Los Angeles Times, Teen Vogue, Business Insider, and CNBC. Follow her on Twitter at @devondelfino. Read more Read less

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