Instagram has announced it is currently testing new features that will enhance user customization of their feeds. In September, reports indicated the platform was exploring options for users to selectively share Reels and feed posts with a tailored list of profiles. Recently, Instagram began rolling out a feature allowing users to specify their “audience” prior to sharing any posts on their main feed. Additionally, the social media platform has introduced a variety of new editing tools for Reels, along with new filters for posts and advanced insights.
The popular Close Friends feature has also been expanded, enabling users to share posts and Reels on their main feed exclusively with those on their Close Friends list, rather than just their general followers. Previously, this feature was limited to stories, but users can now select their Close Friends list from the “audience” option before sharing. Posts shared through this method will display a green star icon, mirroring the green circle that denotes Close Friends stories. This new capability has been verified by Gadgets 360.
Regardless of whether users are posting notes, stories, Reels, or feed posts, the composition of their Close Friends lists will remain unchanged. When a follower responds to a story, the reply functions as a private direct message to the original poster. However, interactions such as likes or comments on someone else’s Close Friends post or Reel will be visible to all members of the Close Friends circle.
Instagram has also revealed new editing capabilities for Reels, which now include options to crop and rotate individual clips. The company has expressed intentions to introduce undo and redo functions for Reels editing in the near future. Users can now add audio clips to their Reels, and ten new text-to-speech voices in English have been integrated, alongside new text styles and typefaces in multiple languages. Moreover, users can access the audio page directly from the top of their camera roll and utilize text outlines in their Reels. A simplified preview feature for drafts has also been implemented, allowing users to preview, rename, and schedule their drafts in advance.
The platform is introducing personalized stickers akin to those found on WhatsApp. Users can create custom stickers from images and videos sourced from their personal galleries and Instagram. New filters designed to explore various tones and moods have also been added, along with new insight metrics termed ‘Replays’, which track replay counts alongside initial views. In the upcoming months, Instagram plans to introduce an interactive Retention Chart for Reels to aid digital creators with moment-by-moment engagement insights.
