Instagram just got more social as they just dropped Repost and a Friends Tab. You can actually repost stuff without leaving the app now, and the Friends Tab lets you see what your actual friends are doing instead of whatever random stuff Instagram thinks you want to see.
We’re going to break down why these features are actually a big deal, how to use them, and some smart ways to make the most of them.
Why These Features Matter Right Now
Social media has shifted. It’s no longer just about perfectly polished feeds. It’s more about community-driven content and authentic relationships.
Reposting has become huge on Instagram. Everyone’s sharing user content, collaborating with other accounts, and trying to hop on trends. But until now, you either had to mess around with random apps or deal with crappy screenshot quality.
Want to keep track of people you actually care about? Unfortunately, Instagram’s algorithm-driven feed often buries updates from your most important connections under a mountain of suggested posts and ads.
Instagram Repost and the Friends Tab basically solve these pain points. No more workarounds, no more missing important posts. Instagram has streamlined your workflow and put meaningful engagement back in your hands.
What Is the Instagram Repost Feature?
This new feature finally brings seamless sharing inside the app. You can now repost images, videos, or carousels directly. No downloads, no screenshots, and no watermark-heavy apps. Best of all, reposts give full credit to the original creator.
Benefits of the Repost Feature
For creators: Highlight fan art, shoutouts, or collaborative posts without messing up your content flow.
For brands: Showcase reviews and testimonials through user-generated content (UGC).
For individuals: Share memes, travel inspiration, or posts from friends instantly without sacrificing quality.
How to Repost a Reel or a Post on Instagram
You can repost public reels or posts on Instagram. When you repost, your followers may see it in their feeds, and the repost will also appear in a dedicated Reposts tab on your profile.
(iPhone and Android Devices)
Open the Instagram app.
Find a public reel or post you’d like to repost.
Tap Repost.
To add text, tap the speech bubble next to your profile picture at the bottom left.
Type any caption or comment you’d like to include.
Tap Add.
Your reposts show up in a Reposts tab on your profile, and your followers might see them in their feeds, too. If people comment on your repost, those comments come to you as DMs.
Note: You can only repost original content if the original creator allows it. Reposting of reposts is not supported.
What Is the Friends Tab?
Tired of scrolling through whatever Instagram's algorithm decides to show you? The Friends Tab is the answer to your dilemma. This is basically your own personal Instagram feed. You can now create a dedicated space for the people and accounts you care about most.
Benefits of the Friends Tab
For individuals: Never miss posts from your closest friends or family.
For creators/brands: Keep up with the people you work with, other accounts in your space, or potential collabs without losing track of them.
For social media managers: Watch what your competitors and industry people are doing without it getting buried under everything else.
No more FOMO (fear of missing out) or wasted time scrolling. Your important connections are finally up front and center.
How to Access Your Friends Tab on Instagram
Open the Instagram app.
Tap Reels.
At the top of the Reels screen, tap Friends.
Want to switch back to your regular reels feed? At the top of the screen, tap Reels to exit the Friends tab.
Note: The Friends tab is now rolling out globally. If you don’t see it yet, update your app and check back soon.
Instagram Repost vs. Friends Tab: What’s the Difference?
Feature | Instagram Repost | Friends Tab |
Purpose | Share content from others while adding your own spin | Curate a private feed of priority accounts |
Best For | Brands amplifying UGC, creators sharing trends | Personal users, businesses tracking collaborators/competitors |
Engagement Style | Public, so your audience sees and interacts with the repost | Private; you interact more deeply with selected accounts |
Risks | Over-reposting without context can feel lazy | Overloading the tab reduces its curation value |
Pro Tip | Add context in captions to align reposts with your brand voice | Keep the list fresh and review monthly to maintain relevance |
Why These Features Are a Game-Changer for Social Media Managers
No More App Juggling
You don’t have to deal with those weird third-party apps or the whole screenshot thing anymore. It’s all just built into Instagram now, so you can actually get stuff done without jumping between like 10 different apps.
Stronger Community Connections
Reposting customer content and keeping up with important accounts doesn’t feel like work anymore. You can actually highlight your audience and stay connected with people who matter.
Saves You So Much Time
What used to take like 10-15 minutes per repost now takes maybe 2. And you’re not scrolling through tons of random posts to find the accounts you actually need to see. Even saving half an hour a day adds up. That’s time you can spend on better content or actually engaging with people.
For example, Sarah runs social media for a small fitness studio.
With Repost, she can share customer success stories and workout clips in seconds.
Her Friends Tab has local fitness influencers, partner businesses, and her most active members. This means she never misses when they post something. Result? 40% more engagement, and she’s spending 25% less time on management-related tasks.
Best Practices and Tips
For Instagram Repost
Always credit the original creator.
Add your own caption twist to contextualize why you’re sharing it.
Diversify reposts—mix UGC, memes, and thought leadership for variety.
Keep reposts on-brand by aligning them with your voice and values.
Avoid over-reposting to keep your feed authentic and original.
Engage with the creator to build stronger relationships.
For Friends Tab
Keep your list curated. Having too many accounts defeats the purpose.
Refresh your list every month as priorities shift.
Use it strategically: friends for personal accounts, collaborators/competitors for business accounts.
Add new connections gradually as your strategy evolves.
Mix personal connections, industry peers, and potential collaborators for balance.
Prioritize accounts that inspire or add value to your content.
Use it for monitoring competitor trends without cluttering your main feed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to get the Friends tab on Instagram?
To access your Friends tab, tap the “Friends” tab at the top of Reels. To return to your usual Reels feed, tap the “Reels” tab.
What is the new friend feature on Instagram?
This is a new tab in Reels where you can see public content your friends have interacted with and easily start conversations about them.
Can I repost videos as well as photos?
Yes, you can repost pretty much anything: photos, videos, and carousel posts.
Will reposting affect reach or engagement?
No. If anything it usually helps since you’re sharing content that people already like. Just make sure you add your own thoughts to it.
Is the Friends Tab private?
Absolutely. It’s just for you and nobody else can see who you’ve got on your list.
Can you repost using both mobile and desktop devices?
This feature isn’t available on computers, but it is available on iPhone and Android devices.
Are there any limits on how much I can repost?
Most people do like 80% original content and 20% reposts. That way, you’re not just sharing other people’s content all the time, but you benefit from community-driven content.
Transform Your Instagram Strategy Today
Instagram should be about connection and creativity, not wasted time. With our new Repost and Friends Tab features, you can finally manage Instagram more effortlessly, strategically, and authentically.
These features basically do the heavy lifting for you when it comes to sharing content and keeping track of your connections. You’ll spend way less time on busy work and more time actually building real relationships with your followers, partners, and other people in your space.
Whether you’re amplifying customer voices or jumping into trending topics, these new features turn Instagram from a huge time-suck into something that actually helps you connect with people.
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