Instagram now lets you shop in chat

Instagram makes it a little easier for small businesses to make a living from their merchandising. The social network has introduced the possibility of making purchases through chats. Message a business and you can ask questions, receive product details, and pay (using Meta Pay, naturally) without leaving the conversation. You can buy and customize this must-have shirt without visiting a website or searching for a buyable publication. The feature is available from qualified small businesses in select countries. We asked Meta for more details.

Chat shopping is not surprising. You can already buy via WhatsApp chats in many countries. This expansion could make Instagram chats just as viable for purchases, and could be especially useful in North America and other regions where WhatsApp doesn't have much influence. If nothing else, this makes Instagram a full-service storefront - you may never need to leave the app to address your concerns.

All products recommended by Engadget are selected by our editorial team, independent of our parent company. Some of our stories include affiliate links. If you purchase something through one of these links, we may earn an affiliate commission.