Meta has today rolled out three major updates to Instagram designed to improve how users connect and engage through the app, including a Repost feature, an optional Instagram map for sharing locations, and a new Friends tab in Reels.
The Repost function makes it possible to share public feed posts or Reels directly to a user’s followers. Much like a retweet, the shared content appears in the user’s own Repost tab and is added to followers’ feeds organically.
Creators benefit too, since reposts credit the original author, which may expand their visibility to non‑followers. Users have the option to include a personal note in a thought‑bubble overlay before reposting, adding context or commentary to the shared content.
Another key upgrade is the Instagram map, an opt‑in location‑sharing tool inspired by Snapchat’s Snap Map. Found inside direct messages, the map shows the last active location of friends who choose to share it. Users can also browse content posted from those locations, such as public Reels or posts tagged at events or venues.
All location sharing is controlled by each user, with granular selection over who can view the updates and the ability to pause sharing at any time. For supervised teen accounts, parents can monitor and manage these location settings, promoting safer usage.
The third new feature is the “Friends” tab in the Reels section. This dedicated feed surfaces Reels that friends have posted, liked, commented on, or reposted. Originally piloted in select markets earlier this year, it is now live globally. Users can easily switch between their usual Reels feed and the Friends tab to catch content that people close to them are enjoying.
Meta says these updates mark a strategic pivot for Instagram, shifting away from passive entertainment toward active social participation. Data shared during Meta’s FTC antitrust trial showed that in early 2025 just 7% of Instagram use involved content from friends.
These features launch initially in the US with plans for broader global rollout soon.
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