Instagram has dropped new features claiming to help users connect better with friends. The social media app owned by Meta has introduced Reposts, Friend Map, and a ‘Friends’ feed in the Reels tab, out of which two are currently accessible in India. Reposts allow users to reshare public content from their favourite creators, which appears in a new tab on their profile or friends’ recommendations. Friend Map allows users to share their location with friends, while the ‘Friends’ feed under the Reels tab displays content that friends have loved or interacted with.
Instagram has added a new Friends section in the Reels tab, which lets users see what their fellow users are viewing. The update also lets users repost content and includes a Snapchat-like mapping tool. The new map feature, which was inspired by Snapchat’s Snap Map, displays users’ friends’ locations on a map. Users may also repost reels and posts, access a new Friends Tab in Reels, and see what other users have reposted on their profiles. The upgrade is part of Instagram’s continuing attempts to improve its user experience.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DNBCJoiOp9J/
In This Article
Reposts
Reposts enable users to share public reels and feed posts, boosting their interests to friends and followers. Reposts are suggested and kept in a separate tab on the user’s profile for easy access. Reposts are attributed to the original poster, and creators can reach a larger audience if their work is reposted by someone else, even if they do not follow the creator. This feature facilitates sharing and encourages content development.
To repost a reel or post, tap the repost icon, add a note by typing into the thought bubble, and press save.
Friend Map
Users can choose to broadcast their last active location with friends, which can be switched off at any point. The map also allows users to browse content from their friends and favourite creators from interesting locations. Location sharing is disabled unless users opt in, although users may personalise their experience by selecting who they share their location with and not sharing it in certain locations or with specific persons. The location is updated whenever the app is opened or goes back to the background, and users may disable it at any moment. Parents who monitor their kids may customise their location sharing experience on the map, receive notifications when their child puts out their location, and decide if their teen has access to location sharing.
Users can use the location-based map function to find location-specific content, such as friends’ concert stories or reels from local creators. The map displays reels, posts, and stories from individuals you follow, which are visible for 24 hours after they are posted, as well as comments from mutually following people. The functionality is presently accessible in the United States and will be rolled out globally. The map may be accessed at the top of your direct message inbox.
‘Friends’ feed in the Reels tab
Last but not least, Friends is a new tab in Reels that lets users explore public content and recommendations from friends, as well as initiate conversations about them. Friends, which was released earlier this year, would assist users in identifying reels uploaded and seen by their closest friends. To access Friends, choose the “Friends” tab at the top of Reels and then return to the “Reels” tab. Users can also hide their reel likes and comments, as well as mute activity bubbles for certain persons they follow.
