DM automation
DM automation: how it works, and where Postkey runs it
Postkey is the most agentic DM automation tool. Build automations by hand, or have ChatGPT or Claude build, edit and switch them on for you.
The short answer
DM automation sends direct messages for you when something happens: someone comments a keyword, DMs a word, replies to your story or messages you for the first time. The automation answers with messages and buttons, can ask for a follow or an email first, tags the contact, and leaves the chat for a person when it should. Postkey runs DM automation on Instagram and Messenger today. TikTok, WhatsApp and Telegram DMs are built and coming.
Updated October 23, 2026 (channels), October 20, 2026 (Meta's rules)
How a DM automation works
In Postkey you build one with the Quick form (a keyword, a DM and a link, in about a minute) or step by step in the Flow Builder for longer flows.
- 01
A trigger starts it: a keyword in a comment, a keyword in a DM, a story reply or mention, a first message, or a link to the chat.
- 02
It sends your messages, with images, buttons and links, in the order you set. A tap on a button can lead to the next step.
- 03
It can ask before it gives: follow first, or reply with an email. The answer is saved on the contact.
- 04
It tags the contact and records what they tapped, so you can see which automation brought in which people.
- 05
When a person should answer, the conversation waits in the Inbox, with the time left to reply shown.
Which DM channels are live
| Channel | Status | Automations | Comments get | Follow check | Inbox |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Live | Yes | A DM to the commenter | Yes | Yes | |
| Messenger | Live | Yes | A DM to the commenter | No | Coming |
| TikTok | Coming | Coming | Not yet | No | Coming |
| Coming | Coming | No comments | No | Coming | |
| Telegram | Coming | Coming | No comments | No | Coming |
"Coming" means built and working in Postkey's demo, and not switched on for customers yet. Only Instagram tells apps who follows you, so the follow check works there only. WhatsApp: From Create. Meta bills your WhatsApp Business Account for messages. Email and SMS are coming as paid add-ons.
The reply windows on Instagram and Messenger
- A business answers within 24 hours of the person's last message. After that, only a reply typed by hand can go out, for 7 days more.
- A comment allows one DM (a private reply) until they answer. A tap on the first DM's button counts as an answer, which is why Postkey's opening DM has one.
- Meta applies the same windows to Messenger, so Postkey keeps Instagram and Messenger conversations inside them.
Sources: Meta for Developers: Instagram Messaging API, Meta for Developers: Private Replies, Meta for Developers: Messenger Platform policy overview
DM automation an AI agent can run
Postkey's MCP server gives an assistant up to 52 tools. These are the ones for DMs:
- Build and change automations: postkey_list_automation_templates, postkey_create_automation, postkey_update_automation.
- Switch them on or off: postkey_preview_action, postkey_publish_automation, postkey_pause_automation. Switching on waits for your yes by default.
- Answer the inbox: postkey_list_conversations, postkey_get_conversation, postkey_send_reply.
- Look up and tag people: postkey_search_contacts, postkey_tag_contact.
- See what worked: postkey_get_automation_stats.
You stay in charge
- It acts as you, on the one profile you picked, inside your plan and its limits.
- Publishing a post, sending a reply and switching on an automation wait for your yes by default.
- Each connection has limits: up to 60 requests a minute and 200 changes a day by default (20 a minute and 100 a day for the whole profile on Free).
- Text from DMs and comments reaches the assistant marked as written by someone else, and it is told never to follow it.
- Billing, your team, connected accounts and deleting contacts stay with you. An assistant cannot touch them.
- End a connection at any time and its next request is refused.
Why Postkey is the most agentic DM automation tool
Postkey's MCP server can build, edit and switch on automations. An agent can do the whole job:
- Build, edit and switch on DM automations: comment to DM, keyword DMs, follow to unlock, collecting emails.
- Read the inbox, draft replies and send them once you say yes.
- Write, schedule and publish posts, and set the DM keyword each post's comments reply to.
- Find and tag contacts, and report how posts and automations did.
- Up to 52 tools in one MCP server, with OAuth sign-in or an agent key, and a skill file that teaches the agent the rules.
- Approvals, limits and protection from instructions hidden in DMs built in, so you can let an agent run it.
Questions
Instagram and Messenger today. TikTok, WhatsApp and Telegram DMs are built and coming. WhatsApp: From Create. Meta bills your WhatsApp Business Account for messages. Email and SMS are coming as add-ons.
Close. A DM automation follows steps you wrote; a chatbot makes up its answers. Postkey does both: automations follow your steps, and Postkey AI answers in your voice, from the Create plan.
TikTok DMs are built and coming. Postkey already schedules your TikTok posts.
Yes. On Instagram, the conversation is in Postkey's Inbox, where you or your team reply by hand, with the time left to reply shown. A reply typed by hand can still go out for 7 days after the 24 hours window closes.
Yes. A paid Postkey plan holds up to 15 connected accounts, sharing one contact allowance.