Instagram’s New Features Make It Easier to Stay Connected With Friends
Instagram just rolled out a handful of updates that make the platform feel more social again. The focus is on helping you keep up with the people you care about, not just the algorithm. You can now repost content, explore a new interactive map, and see what your friends are up to in a dedicated Reels tab.
For creators, brands, and social media managers, these updates open up new ways for content to spread, get discovered, and spark conversation.
Here’s what’s new and why it matters.
Repost Public Reels and Posts
You can now repost any public Reel or feed post. Instead of sharing content only through Stories or DMs, reposting gives it a spot in your profile and lets your followers discover it right in their feed.
Here’s what happens when you repost:
- It appears in a separate “Reposts” tab on your profile
- It gets recommended to your followers, just like original content
- The original creator is credited every time
This is a great way to show support for other creators while also giving your audience more of the content you enjoy. If your content is reposted by others, it can reach people who don’t follow you yet.
To repost, tap the repost icon under a post or Reel. You’ll also have the option to add a short note before saving.
Share Your Location with Friends Using the Instagram Map
Instagram has reintroduced the map with a new social layer. You can choose to share your last active location with selected friends, and you can turn it off at any time. This isn’t about broadcasting your whereabouts. It’s a more casual way to stay connected with the people you’re closest to.
You decide how and when you share:
- Choose specific friends, mutual followers, or your Close Friends list
- Block certain locations or people from seeing your location
- Your location updates only when the app is active
- Turn it off completely whenever you want
For teens using supervised accounts, parents will receive a notification if location sharing is turned on. They’ll also be able to manage who their teen shares with and whether the feature is even available.
Even if you don’t share your own location, the map is still useful. You can explore location-tagged content like Reels, posts, and Stories from people you follow. There are also Notes from mutuals that appear for 24 hours. It’s a quick way to discover where your friends are going, what they’re doing, and what’s trending nearby.
To open the map, head to the top of your DM inbox. Instagram Maps is currently available in the US and will be expanding soon.
Explore the Friends Tab in Reels
Instagram is also adding a new Friends tab in Reels. This tab shows you the public content your friends are engaging with. That includes videos they’ve liked, commented on, reposted, or created. You’ll also see Reels from any Blends you’ve joined.
This is meant to make Reels feel more social and less random. It gives you a reason to start conversations about what your friends are watching and creating.
To find it, open Reels and tap the Friends tab at the top. You can always switch back to your regular feed by tapping Reels again.
You also have more control now. You can hide your own activity from appearing in others’ Friends tabs. You can also mute updates from specific people if you’d rather not see their likes and reposts.
What This Means for Creators and Brands
These features create more entry points for your content to reach new people. When someone reposts your Reel, it can show up in their friends’ feeds. If someone watches your content from the map, it could be because they’re exploring a spot you tagged. If a Reel is getting traction among your audience’s friends, it could land in the Friends tab and keep the momentum going.
The best part? You don’t have to change your strategy. Keep making good content. These new tools just give it more room to move.
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