The year 2023 has proven to be an active one for the tech giant Meta, with its subsidiaries, including Instagram, experiencing numerous updates. Just a few weeks ago, they unveiled the testing of a collaborative feature in Instagram posts. Now, another addition has been introduced, expanding Instagram’s Close Friends feature beyond Stories and Notes to include Posts and Reels. This enhancement is particularly welcomed by users who value the Close Friends feature. Let’s delve deeper into this latest update to Instagram’s Close Friends feature.
Why Has Instagram’s Close Friends Feature Expanded to Posts and Reels?
According to a release from Instagram, the update of Instagram’s Close Friends feature to Instagram posts and reels is the result of their purpose of providing users a “Pressure-free space” to connect with people. Instagram also stated, “We hope this opens up more ways to be your most authentic self on Instagram while having more choices over who sees your content.”
One important thing to note is that Instagram’s Close Friends feature was first released in 2018 on Stories, and later expanded to Notes, and now to Posts and Reels. The expansion of Instagram’s Close Friends feature reflects the increased usage by users. In fact, in the past, many users have established “Finsta” accounts, creating private spaces for engaging with a selected group of friends to share such content. However, with the recent update of Instagram’s Close Friends feature, numerous of these accounts will probably become obsolete.
Also Read: UK Urges Meta Not to Roll Out End-To-End Encryption on Messenger and Instagram
How Do I Apply Instagram’s Close Friends Feature on Instagram Posts and Reels?
To limit a post or reel to only your close friends,
1. Choose the ‘Audience’ option that appears before sharing the content.
2. Select ‘Close Friends’.
3. Confirm with ‘Done’.
4. Proceed to share the post.
The photo, video, or reel will only be visible to your close friends, marked by a green star icon, indicating it was exclusively shared with users on your Close Friends list.
The release of this new Instagram’s Close Friends feature enables users to tweak the visibility of each post, without the need to set one’s account as private. Indeed, the initial aim of Instagram’s Close Friends feature is to let users share stories with smaller, curated groups. Over time, it has proven to be a convenient method for users to share content selectively, limiting visibility to a chosen audience. With this Instagram feature extending to posts and reels, the content you encounter on your timeline may now vary based on whether you’re included in someone’s close friend’s list and vice versa.
What Does the New Expansion of Instagram’s Close Friends Feature Bring?
The release of this new Instagram’s Close Friends feature brings users comprehensive control over their Instagram accounts on what to let others see and what not to. With the option to share posts exclusively with selected followers, one’s Instagram feed may adopt a more intimate atmosphere, resembling a close-knit community. The green star next to close friends’ accounts becomes a recognisable marker, and extending this privacy concept to reels contributes to creating a more secluded ambiance within the app.
Meta’s Subsidiaries Current Development
Instagram previously explored a close friends-only approach with the introduction of the Threads app in 2019, and it appears that the platform is now aiming to bring that sense of privacy to the broader Instagram experience. In fact, Meta have already introduced several features for users to control their own privacy on Instagram. To learn more, check out this article.
There’s also relatively big news for the Threads app, as the discussed topic on deleting Threads account resembles the same loss of Instagram account is now solved, you may be part of the audience that have been hoping for this news a long time, be sure to check out this good news in full. Meanwhile, Facebook have allowed users to restrict posts to specific groups within their friends list, whether it involves close friends, acquaintances, or individuals with whom they prefer not to share posts.
Once again, we can see that one of the recent trends of tech and AI development is the privacy issue, as various tech giants have brought up updates to the public that enhance user security and privacy, such as Samsung’s new Galaxy AI mentioned privacy as one of its unique selling points for Samsung users, and Meta’s WhatsApp itself bringing up much more security measures for the messaging app.
One Last Say
The extension of Instagram’s Close Friends feature is set to enhance control over account viewing and privacy, providing added convenience. This comprehensive update within the app is poised to deliver a more comfortable content-sharing experience, simplifying the process of controlling what others can view.