WEBDESK: Instagram has introduced a set of new features to make sharing and staying connected easier. The update includes a reposting tool, a real-time location map, and a new Friends tab in Reels.
The changes were announced on 6 August by Instagram’s parent company, Meta. The new tools are now being rolled out to users in the United States and will likely reach other countries soon.
Instagram Update: Reposts Option now Available
One of the biggest additions is the repost feature. It allows users to share public posts and Reels from other accounts directly to their own profiles.
Reposted content will appear in your followers’ feeds and on a new Reposts tab on your profile. The original creator will still get credit.
Meta says this feature gives content creators a better chance to reach new audiences.
Location Sharing with the Instagram Map
Another major feature is the Instagram Map, which lets users share their last active location with selected friends.
This tool is optional, and you can turn it on or off at any time. Users can also explore posts by location.
Meta said parents will be notified if their teen turns on location sharing. With supervision tools, parents can also control who sees the teen’s location.
New Friends Tab in Reels in Instagram Update
The update also brings a new Friends tab to the Reels section. It shows a feed of public content your friends have liked or commented on, along with personalised suggestions called Blends.
You can choose to hide your activity, so your likes or comments won’t appear in someone else’s Friends tab. You can also mute certain users if you don’t want to see their interactions.
More Safety and Profile Updates
These new features follow several recent changes aimed at improving user safety.
Instagram has added tighter controls on direct messages for teen users and set content restrictions for adult accounts that feature children.
In June, the platform also launched a summer profile redesign, allowing users to rearrange the layout of their profile grid.
With these updates, Instagram says it hopes to make sharing more personal, location-aware, and secure for everyone.
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