Instagram presents 4 updates: Reposts, friends map, suggested reels, and picks

In addition to the automatic translations for Reels that we discussed in another article, Instagram is introducing three new features: reposts, the friends map, and a friends feed tab within Reels.

The announcement was made by the social network’s CEO, Adam Mosseri, who is well known for his concise and frequent updates on Instagram explaining the newly implemented features. He explained as much from his official account:

 

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A post shared by Adam Mosseri (@mosseri)

In addition to these, another feature called “Picks” has been announced, which is designed to help users highlight their interests within the app (hobbies, favorite topics, or passions).

Below, we explain each feature in more detail.

Reposts

With Reposts, you can now share Reels, photos, or public carousel posts you find interesting directly to your profile. The content remains visible as long as you do not remove it, and it has the potential to reach broader audiences if others decide to share it as well.

These reposts will appear in a dedicated new tab within your profile exclusively for them, and they will also be displayed in your followers’ feeds. If at any point you wish to remove one, you simply need to tap the repost icon again. Additionally, you can add your own comments or text when sharing, giving it your personal touch.

How do you make a Repost? It is very simple. When you see a Reel or a post that you like and wish to share with your followers, tap the repost icon (the one that looks like a cycle of arrows). You may add a comment or thought to accompany your repost, just as if you were saying: “This is so me!” or “I simply had to share this.”

Recognition, from likes to comments, goes directly to the original creator of the content. It is a new way to discover and amplify content while always ensuring appropriate credit is given.

 

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A post shared by Instagram’s @Creators (@creators)

The Friends Map

The friends map allows you to share your location with a selected list of contacts, either your close friends or a personalized group. That is, you now have the option to share your location with your close friends list or with a custom group of people you care about or with whom you would like to connect beyond the virtual world. When accessing the map from the top of your inbox, you will be able to see the locations of individuals who have chosen to share their location with you, as well as any photos, carousels, reels, or stories that include an attached location.

As Mosseri himself explains, “This is an excellent way not only to stay connected with your closest friends, but also to see what is happening around you.”

The Friends Feed

This functionality was previously available in the United States for some time, and it is now being extended to additional countries. It consists of a new tab located within Reels that enables users to view public content with which their contacts have interacted. Furthermore, it facilitates the initiation of conversations around the Reels that are most engaging within a close circle.

This will also include Reels that have been re-posted, thanks to the new repost feature.

To access, simply tap ‘Friends’ at the top of Reels; to return to the regular feed, you can select the Reels tab again.

As explained by Mosseri, the purpose of this “friends feed” is to transform the social network into not just a passive consumption experience, but also a participatory one, encouraging increased interaction with the people who matter most to the user.

Picks

Instagram is also testing “Picks,” a feature intended to help users highlight their interests within the app (including hobbies, favorite subjects, or passions). This feature is still in the experimental phase, but it would be integrated into the inbox through an icon at the top of your Notes. By selecting it, you can search for specific topics and choose those that best reflect your preferences, with the aim of “finding common ground with friends who are also interested in the same things.”

#Instagram is working on Picks 👀

ℹ️ Add what you’re into and find overlap with friends who are all about it too pic.twitter.com/NXSqoGtqvf

— Alessandro Paluzzi (@alex193a) August 6, 2025

This initiative forms part of Instagram’s recent focus on fostering “deeper connections between users”, making the experience more social and interactive. According to Mosseri, the social network aims not only to entertain, but also to facilitate real-life interactions among people who share similar interests.