Instagram Adds Reposts, Friends Feed in Reels, and New Map Feature

Instagram is rolling out three new features: Reposts, a Friends section in Reels, and an interactive Instagram Map, which tweaks how users share content, discover new posts, and connect with friends. All three updates were detailed in a recent blog post and spotlighted by Instagram head Adam Mosseri in a reel.

Reposts Come to Instagram Reels and Posts

After years of user requests and heavy borrowing from rivals, Instagram is finally adding a native repost option. Much like the retweet on X (formerly Twitter) or TikTok’s repost function, Instagram now lets users reshare Reels and Posts directly to their followers’ feeds.

Reshared content carries a clear repost label and credits the original creator. Unlike previous workarounds like sharing to Stories or forwarding in DMs, this new approach brings reshared content into the main feed, broadening its reach. Each user’s profile now includes a reposts tab to separate original uploads from shared ones, giving followers a clearer sense of what’s new versus what’s been passed along.

Instagram Map Takes Cues from Snapchat

The newly launched Instagram Map closely mirrors Snapchat’s location-sharing feature. Positioned at the top of the DM inbox, the Map lets users see friends’ locations if they’ve opted in to share them.

Location updates are triggered only when the app is open, and the setting defaults to off. Users can manage visibility, choosing whether to share with everyone, close friends, or handpicked accounts. While the core function mimics Snap Map, Instagram is layering on extras.

The Map also lets users:

• View location-tagged content shared by friends and creators.
• Discover restaurants and landmarks friends have visited.
• Leave notes pinned to map locations for others to see.

While Instagram positions this as a social discovery tool, it could also raise familiar privacy concerns. How many users will actively opt in remains to be seen.

Friends Feed Now Built Into Reels Tab

Instagram is expanding its Reels experience with a new Friends section. The update surfaces Reels that friends have liked or commented on, alongside personalized Blend recommendations already rolled out in earlier tests.

This update builds on the Blend feature Instagram introduced to let users combine their tastes in Reels. The Friends feed now brings that idea to a more visible, integrated space inside the Reels tab.

The feature has been live in the U.S. since early 2025 and is now rolling out globally. Users concerned about visibility or algorithmic tracking can opt out entirely.

These Features Are Live, But You Might Need to Look

Instagram says these features are already available, but not everyone may see them right away. To check, make sure your app is up to date, verify permissions for location sharing, and look under your DMs for Map access.

Will these new tools actually change how you use Instagram, or just add more clutter to an already packed app? Drop your thoughts in the comments below.