Send an Instagram direct message to a user by username. Args: username: Instagram username of the recipient. message: The message text to send. Returns: A dictionary with success status and a status message.
AI agents use send_message to create or update resources in Instagram DM MCP Server — usually the action step of a workflow, after the agent has gathered context. Every call changes real data in your Instagram DM MCP Server environment.
This tool creates and stores new data (messages) in a reversible manner, fitting the Write category. Severity is high because an AI agent could send unsolicited messages at scale to many users, harass specific individuals, impersonate the account owner, spread misinformation, or engage in spam/scams, causing significant reputational and social harm to the account owner.
From the tool's definition Tool sends direct messages to Instagram users via 'send_message' function with username and message text arguments, creating new message data in Instagram's messaging system.
Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access send_message gives an agent:
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and Instagram DM MCP Server, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for send_message:
{
"version": "1",
"default": "deny",
"tools": {
"send_message": {
"limits": [
{
"counter": "send_message_rate",
"window": "minute",
"max": 30,
"scope": "grant"
}
]
}
}
}send_message stays usable, but capped — an agent stuck in a loop can't make hundreds of changes a minute. Everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.
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Send an Instagram direct message to a user by username. Args: username: Instagram username of the recipient. message: The message text to send. Returns: A dictionary with success status and a status message. It is categorised as a Write tool in the Instagram DM MCP Server MCP Server, which means it can create or modify data. Consider rate limits to prevent runaway writes.
Register the Instagram DM MCP Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for send_message: allow, deny, rate-limit, or require approval. Point your MCP client at the PolicyLayer proxy URL and the rule is enforced on every call, before it reaches Instagram DM MCP Server. Nothing to install.
send_message is a Write tool with medium risk. Write tools should be rate-limited to prevent accidental bulk modifications.
Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the send_message rule in your PolicyLayer policy. For example, setting max: 10 and window: 60 limits the tool to 10 calls per minute. Rate limits are tracked per agent session and reset automatically.
Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for send_message. The AI agent will receive a policy violation error and cannot call the tool. You can also include a reason field to explain why the tool is blocked.
send_message is provided by the Instagram DM MCP Server MCP server (trypeggy/instagram_dm_mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Deterministic rules across all 25 Instagram DM MCP Server tools. Per-identity grants. Full audit log. Live in minutes. Nothing to install.
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25 Instagram DM MCP Server tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 42,500+ MCP servers.