Instagram's New Experiment: Sharing Feed Posts Exclusively with 'Close Friends

Instagram users have long voiced their concerns about the platform's somewhat impersonal feel, largely attributed to its algorithmic feed. Acknowledging these concerns, Instagram is actively exploring ways to facilitate more meaningful content sharing among friends. In a recent development, Instagram is currently testing a feature that empowers users to share their feed posts exclusively with their 'Close Friends' group.

In recent days, numerous users, including Lia Haberman from ICYMI newsletter, have reported encountering this feature. Instagram has confirmed that it is indeed testing this functionality, albeit in select countries, without specifying which ones.

A spokesperson from Meta, Instagram's parent company, stated, "We’re testing the ability for people in select countries to share feed posts with their Close Friends. We’re always exploring new ways for our community to express themselves and connect on Instagram."

If this feature is rolled out widely, it could significantly reduce the need for users to maintain a "finsta" account, which is essentially an alternative account used exclusively for close friends.

Instagram's journey to enhance personal connections has seen several milestones. In 2018, the platform introduced the option to share Stories exclusively with a private list of 'Close Friends.' The following year, Instagram ventured into the realm of group chatting within the 'Close Friends' circle through an app called Threads (distinct from the social network launched in July). However, Threads was discontinued in 2021, redirecting the focus toward improving the direct messaging experience.

December of the previous year witnessed the launch of Instagram Notes, providing a means to share text updates with friends. In recent months, Instagram has continued to introduce a range of features aimed at enriching user interactions, including music sharing, translation capabilities, and location sharing for Notes.

As Instagram strives to create a more personalized and user-centric experience, the 'Close Friends' feature represents another step toward strengthening connections and fostering authentic social interactions on the platform. Stay tuned for further updates as this feature undergoes testing and potential expansion to a broader audience.