Instagram is rolling out exciting new ways to help you stay closer to your friends and discover shared interests — all through the content you love. Whether it’s sharing a funny reel, discovering popular hangouts through the Instagram map, or seeing what your friends are enjoying in the new “Friends” tab in Reels, these updates are designed to make your Instagram experience more social, meaningful, and fun.
🔁 Repost Your Favorite Reels and Posts
You can now easily repost public Reels and feed posts directly to your followers. Reposts will appear:
- In your followers’ feeds as personalized recommendations
- In a dedicated Reposts tab on your profile, making it easy to revisit the content you’ve shared
Reposts give credit to the original creator. If you’re a content creator, this means your posts can now reach a wider audience when reposted by others — even those who don’t follow you.
How to repost:
- Tap the repost icon on a Reel or post
- Add a note in the thought bubble (optional)
- Tap Save to share
🗺️ Share and Discover with the Instagram Map
The new Instagram Map lets you explore content from specific locations — and optionally share your own. By turning on location sharing, you can let selected friends see your last active location, helping you stay connected in real life, too.
🔒 Privacy First: You Control Your Location
Location sharing is off by default. If you choose to turn it on, you can:
- Share with Close Friends, mutual followers, or selected individuals
- Exclude specific people or locations
- Turn off sharing at any time
Your location is only updated when you open Instagram or return to the app. For families, parental supervision tools are available to help guide teens’ location-sharing behavior.
Even without sharing your location, you can use the map to see:
- Stories, reels, and posts tagged at locations (available for 24 hours)
- Notes from mutual followers (also available for 24 hours)
Where to find it: Tap the map icon at the top of your DM inbox.
This feature is rolling out in the U.S. now, with global expansion coming soon.
👯 Discover What Friends Are Engaging With – Reels “Friends” Tab
The new Friends tab in Reels helps you discover what your friends are watching, liking, and commenting on — making it easier to join in conversations and share experiences.
You’ll see:
- Public content your friends have engaged with
- Reels from Blends you’ve joined
- Content your friends are creating or interacting with
🎛️ Control Your Visibility
You’re in charge of what others see:
- Hide your likes or comments from showing in the Friends tab
- Mute specific people’s activity if you prefer a quieter feed
To explore this feature, simply:
- Tap the Friends tab at the top of Reels
- Switch back to your regular feed by tapping the Reels tab
💡 Final Thoughts
Instagram is making it easier than ever to connect meaningfully, discover content together, and stay close to your favorite people. With Reposts, the new Instagram Map, and the Friends tab in Reels, your experience on the platform is becoming more personalized, social, and fun.