Instagram has rolled out a new suite of features that mirror tools from competitors like TikTok and Snapchat, while also modifying a previously controversial update.
Users can now repost public Reels and grid posts from other accounts directly to their profiles. Reposts will appear in a newly introduced tab, separate from the main photo grid, and will also be shared in the feeds of followers. Until now, the platform only allowed users to share others’ content through Stories, a temporary 24-hour feature. This new option offers a more permanent way to engage with and amplify content from across the platform.
Instagram is also introducing a Snap Map-style location feature, available through direct messages. The opt-in map displays the last active location of friends who choose to enable it and highlights posts shared from specific high-traffic locations, such as concerts or festivals.
Another change is a global expansion of a feature that displays Reels and content friends have interacted with — a move that initially raised privacy concerns during its rollout in the United States earlier this year. The feature now comes with added privacy controls, allowing users to hide their likes and reposts from followers and mute similar activity from others.
The update underscores Instagram’s continued push to compete with other platforms while reshaping the way users interact with content. But it also reflects growing concerns from users and creators about the app’s direction.
As Reels increasingly dominate the feed, users have reported seeing fewer photos from accounts they follow. Meanwhile, creators have expressed frustration over reduced reach and discoverability, as well as feature overload. Some see the new updates as further evidence of Instagram’s shift away from its original photo-sharing model toward a more recommendation-based platform. (The Verge)
