What does Dotted Circle Mean on Instagram?

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A dotted circle on Instagram typically signifies that a user has created a new story, but you haven’t viewed it yet. Stories are a feature on Instagram where users can post photos and videos that disappear after 24 hours. Here’s a breakdown of what different types of circles mean on Instagram:

Types of Circles on Instagram Stories

  1. Colored Circle (Solid):
    • New Story: When you see a solid colored circle (usually gradient or specific to the theme color of Instagram) around a user’s profile picture, it indicates that they have posted a new story that you haven’t viewed yet.
  2. Dotted Circle:
    • Close Friends Story: A green circle around a profile picture usually indicates a story shared with ‘Close Friends’ only. The dotted circle can sometimes appear in various contexts, but it most often refers to features such as new highlights or close friends stories depending on updates and versions of the app.
  3. No Circle:
    • No New Stories: If there is no circle around a user’s profile picture, it means that they haven’t posted a new story or you have already viewed their most recent story.
  4. Grey Circle:
    • Viewed Story: A grey circle around a profile picture means that you have already viewed that user’s current story.

Additional Instagram Features

  • Story Highlights: These are collections of stories that users choose to keep on their profile beyond the 24-hour limit. They appear in circles below the profile information on a user’s page. New highlights might sometimes be indicated with a dotted circle if they have been recently added.
  • Activity Status: Instagram sometimes uses icons like dots in the Direct Messages (DMs) section to show activity status, such as when a user was last active or if they are currently online.

Conclusion

The dotted circle around a profile picture on Instagram usually refers to the presence of a new story, particularly one shared with ‘Close Friends’. However, always consider app updates and specific contexts in which these icons appear as Instagram periodically updates its features and user interface.

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