Instagram rolls out new features: Instagram has rolled out three major features for its users today. The first is the Reposts option, which lets you easily share others’ content with your own followers and friends. The second is the Instagram Map, similar to Snapchat’s map feature, allowing you to explore locations and see where your friends are posting from. Lastly, there’s a new Friends tab in the Reels section, where you can view videos your friends have interacted with, such as those they’ve liked or commented on.
Instagram revealed these updates through an official blog post, accompanied by a reel from platform chief Adam Mosseri, where he discussed the new features now becoming available to all users. Here’s a quick breakdown of what’s new.
Repost Reels on Instagram:
Reposts allow you to share public reels and feed posts with your friends more easily, helping you showcase what you enjoy. When you repost content, it can appear in the feeds of your friends and followers as a recommendation. Additionally, all your reposted content will be organized in a dedicated tab on your profile, so you can revisit them anytime.
Each repost automatically credits the original creator. For content creators, this means their posts can reach a broader audience—if someone shares your reel or post, it may be shown to their followers, even if they don’t follow you directly. This feature opens up new possibilities for creators to expand their reach.
Stay Connected with Friends Using the Instagram Map:
Instagram’s map feature offers a fresh way to keep up with friends. You can choose to share your most recent location with select people, and you’re always in control—it’s easy to disable at any time. The map also lets you explore posts from your friends and favorite creators shared from exciting or unique spots around the world. Whether you’re checking out fun locations or staying in the loop, the map provides a simple, low-key way to stay connected.
Location sharing is completely optional. If you decide to turn it on, you have full control over how it works:
Decide who can see your location: all friends (people you follow who follow you back), your Close Friends list, selected individuals, or no one at all.
You can block location sharing for certain people or in specific areas.
When enabled, your location will refresh when you launch the app or return to it from the background.
You can stop sharing your location whenever you like—it’s entirely up to you.
Discover What Your Friends Are Loving on Instagram:
Instagram is launching Friends, a brand-new section within Reels that lets you explore public videos your friends have liked, commented on, or interacted with—along with suggestions from any Blends you’ve created. This feature makes it easy to see what kind of content the people you care about are enjoying and to start conversations around it.
Initially introduced earlier this year, Friends is now rolling out worldwide. To check it out, simply tap the “Friends” tab at the top of the Reels section. Want to switch back? Just tap “Reels” to return to your standard feed.
