Instagram is introducing a new feature to adapt to changing user habits, allowing users to share their feed posts exclusively with a limited group of “Close Friends.” This feature is designed to encourage more private and enclosed group interactions within the app.

In this update, some users will notice a new “Audience” selector option in the post creation process. This option enables them to share their feed posts exclusively with their “Close Friends,” rather than posting them to their public profile as usual. This expansion of the “Close Friends” feature, initially introduced for Stories in 2018, now includes feed posts as well.

Instagram has explored various methods of private sharing in the past, such as sharing posts with specific users or setting your profile to private. However, this new option simplifies the process by allowing users to control who sees their posts on a post-by-post basis directly within the creation flow.

It’s important to note that your choices on Instagram will not affect your audience settings on Facebook when cross-posting.

This update aligns with the broader trend of social media platforms emphasizing private group interactions over public posting. Instagram’s CEO, Adam Mosseri, has highlighted that users now share more content through direct messages (DMs) than in feed posts or Stories. Instagram has been actively incorporating features to support this trend, including collaborative posts, post collections in chats, and Notes.

Enabling users to share posts exclusively with close friends could encourage more frequent sharing, as people may feel more comfortable knowing that only a select few will see their updates. While not a major overhaul, this feature offers another option for fostering enclosed group discussions, aligning with current behavioral trends on Instagram.

By: Alaa Mdawar