Instagram Rolls Out Option to Share Reels and Feed Posts

What kind of option is Instagram rolling out?

Instagram started rolling this option out with selected users back in September. It is now officially announced that all users can share feed posts and Reels with a selected group of people they have added to their “Close Friends” list.

You can now change the audience for your feed updates to “Close Friends.” It will provide another way to facilitate more intimate connection and engagement in the app. 

When Instagram has added “Close Friends” for stories?

Instagram initially added “Close Friends” for Stories back in 2018. It enables you to create a list of up to 100 people into a more contained group instead of public posting.

It has since added Notes and Reels into the content mix. It provides another enclosed group engagement option, however. Not all users have had the capacity to share these with their private groups. 

What more does Instagram say about “Close Friends”?

IG says all users can post to “Close Friends” in Reels starting today.

It is the latest in the evolving efforts of Instagram to lean into more enclosed and intimate group sharing because people shy away from public posting in the app.    

What did Instagram chief Adam Mosseri explain last year?

According to Adam Mosseri, friends post much more to stories and send more DMs than they post to the Feed.

It is a shift that is also evident in other social apps. It has seen a more significant emphasis on messaging and group engagement options, with each platform now looking to facilitate more enclosed interaction to keep users sharing their apps.

It is also exacerbated by the rise of AI-recommended content in user feeds. It leaves less room for updates from friends and family. 

And given that both Facebook and IG are seeing significant increases in usage due to showing you more video content, it makes sense for them to move in this direction and align with this broader shift. 

What are the new “Close Friends” all about? 

New “Close Friends” options are another part of this, and it will be interesting to see if Instagram users adopt these new updates and start posting into more enclosed groups.

Do you want to know more?

Click here to learn more about the updates on Instagram and other social media platforms.