Imgur unveils new app features so you can finally chat with users
The internet's beloved image sharing community is getting some swanky new features.
On Tuesday, the Imgur team announced via a blog post that a few of their most highly requested features will finally be available in the Imgur app, with some improvements to the desktop site as well.
This means the site's 150 million monthly active users will now have the ability to chat, follow others and update account settings right from their phones. Welcome to the cool kids club, Imgur.
In a statement released to Mashable Monday, Imgur's head of community, Sarah Schaaf, said users of the platform are always looking for new ways to interact. "We’re really excited to help them become aware of when new content from their favorite fellow Imgurians makes it to Most Viral, and to give them the ability to chat in real time with other Imgurians right in the mobile apps," she said.
In hopes of further fostering the interaction that Imgur promotes between users through the sharing of wacky gifs, mind blowing images and memorable memes, the latest features aim to take community building to the next level.
Time to chat
Imgur's chat feature will let you easily send GIFs, posts, emoji, and plain old text in direct messages to other users.
"There are several ways to start chatting: visit a user profile, chat via comment, tap the share icon, or head straight to the chat and search for a username," the company explained.
This is your time to be creative and build friendships, so Imgur would like to remind you not to be afraid to geek out with Beyoncé GIFs, movie references or cheesy pics of pizza when you're trying to DM people.
Because it's Imgur and trolls run wild, the company also considered the presence of unwanted messages that could result from the feature. To remove an unwanted chat, users can simply tap the cog icon inside the conversation (in the upper right hand corner.) This will open the conversation settings and allow you to block the desired user.
Messaging will no longer available on the Imgur mobile website but, on desktop, messages you sent before this update can be found in the "read-only mode" in your account settings.
The ability to follow users
One you're on a user's profile you'll be able to follow them by clicking on the plus symbol beside their usernames. "Following" users will allow you to receive notifications when their posts go "Most Viral."
Say farewell to Imgur FOMO.
As with other popular social platforms like Instagram and Twitter, the update will allow you to view the Imgurians you follow from within your profile, but that info and your follower count will be kept private.
Access to app settings
The Imgur apps will now support account updates, meaning you can easily change your account settings from your phone.
This isn't that groundbreaking but hey, it'll probably make your life a bit easier.
Nicole is a Senior Editor at Mashable. She primarily covers entertainment and digital culture trends, and in her free time she can be found watching TV, sending voice notes, or going viral on Twitter for admiring knitwear. You can follow her on Twitter @nicolemichele5.
