According to META, the original poster will always be credited. (Photo; Social Media)
Social media platform Instagram is undergoing yet another transformation as META rolls out new features designed to deepen user engagement while enhancing safety and content discovery. On August 6, the tech giant unveiled a fresh set of tools for the photo and video-sharing app, including a reposting feature, location sharing via map, and a new Friends tab on Reels.
The move follows META’s broader push in recent months to bolster user experience and safety, especially for teenagers. In July, Instagram added new messaging guardrails for teens and safety tools for adult-run accounts that feature children. The June update allowed users to reorganize their profile grid, giving them more control over how content appears.
The most eye-catching feature in the new update is the ability to repost content, much like on X (formerly Twitter). Users can now repost feed posts and video reels, which will appear not only on followers' timelines but also in a newly added Reposts tab on user profiles.
“This allows creators to reach even more people,” META said.
According to META, the original poster will always be credited. This feature is expected to give content creators a bigger audience while also encouraging users to share more of what they enjoy without having to screenshot or recreate content manually.
A new Instagram Map feature is also rolling out, initially for users in the United States. The map allows users to share their last active location with selected followers. This location-sharing feature, however, is opt-in, meaning users can turn it on or off at any time.
“People have always come to Instagram to share what they’re up to and where they are. Now, with reposts, the map, and the 'Friends' tab in Reels, it’s easier for you and your friends to stay in touch through the content you’re enjoying on Instagram," META wrote in an Aug. 6 news release.
The feature also helps users discover content related to specific locations—such as concerts, restaurants, or travel spots—that their friends have posted about. Importantly, parents with supervision settings will be able to monitor their child’s location-sharing behavior.
“You will receive a notification if your teen starts sharing their location, allowing you to have important conversations about how to safely share with friends,” META added.
The Friends tab on Reels is designed to foster interactions around shared content. Users will see public content that their friends have liked or commented on, along with suggested posts from shared Blends.
Users have the option to silence activity bubbles from particular users and to prevent their likes and comments from showing up in other users' Friends tabs.
Instagram seems to be integrating safety, sharing, and discovery into a single, seamless experience by making these changes, enabling users to interact more fully while still having control over their privacy.
