Instagram has officially launched three highly anticipated features that mark a strategic shift toward becoming more social and friend-focused. These new updates—Re-Posts, Instagram Map, and an expanded Friends tab—were rolled out globally on August 6-7, 2025, representing Meta’s ambitious effort to revitalize authentic connections on a platform increasingly dominated by algorithm-driven creator content.
The Re-Post feature finally brings Instagram in line with platforms like TikTok and X (formerly Twitter), allowing users to share public Reels and feed posts directly to their followers through a circular arrow icon. All re-posts are organized in a dedicated profile tab and automatically credit original creators, giving brands and content creators expanded organic reach as their content gets amplified by fans, employees, or partners without requiring paid promotion. Users can also add personal notes to their re-posts, making shared content more meaningful and contextual for their audience. This feature represents a significant departure from Instagram’s previous sharing model, where content could only be reshared through temporary Stories.
Instagram Map draws clear inspiration from Snapchat’s popular Snap Map feature, enabling users to share their last active location with selected friends and discover location-based content from their social circle and favorite creators. The feature is fully opt-in with location sharing disabled by default, and users maintain granular control over who sees their location—whether close friends, mutual followers, or custom lists. Parents can monitor and control location sharing for teen accounts through supervision tools. The map also allows users to drop short “Notes” at specific locations and discover trending venues or events where friends and creators are posting content, essentially transforming Instagram into a social discovery tool for real-world meetups and experiences.
