The ability to link Facebook contact info has been the cornerstone of many social media apps, and now the process goes both ways as Instagram becomes the starting point.

River flows upstream

In a bid to keep Messenger’s relevance up to par with all its other IPs, Facebook wants users to pull contacts from Instagram’s “People” tab.

It’s just as easy as syncing your mobile contacts with Messenger, and has been noticed by a number of users in various markets.

Big happy family

Combining friends and family (you know, contacts) is easy from either app. In Messenger, simply tap the “Connect Instagram” button and Facebook will do the rest.

Linking through Facebook is nothing new, but now your Instagram username and account also then becomes visible to other Messenger users.

However not everyone is excited, because adding Instagram users is an all-or-nothing deal, without being able to pick and choose. But since the rise of Instagram’s Direct Messaging service for businesses, the push is no surprise.

What’s your experience been with Instagram Direct? Are you surprised with the new contact sync? Let us know in the comments below.