Instagram adds repost feature, location map to deepen user connections

WEB DESK: Instagram, two months away from turning 15, is adding a new layer of interactivity to its platform by introducing features inspired by other popular social apps.

The latest updates include a long-awaited repost button, an interactive Instagram Map, and a dedicated Friends tab in Reels, all aimed at making it easier to share, discover, and connect.

Reposts bring familiar sharing style to Instagram

One of the most anticipated additions is the repost button, which finally gives users a built-in way to share public reels and posts. Similar to how the retweet works on X (formerly Twitter), this feature lets users amplify content without taking screenshots or relying on third-party apps.

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Reposted content appears not only in followers’ feeds but also in a new, separate tab on the user’s profile, making it easier to revisit shared posts later. Instagram has also added a creative twist: users can include short notes in a thought bubble above reposted content, resembling quote tweets.

Importantly, reposts retain the original creator’s name, helping ensure credit is given where it’s due. For content creators, this means their work can reach wider audiences, even if the viewers don’t follow them directly.

Instagram Map lets users explore nearby stories

Another new feature, Instagram Map, brings a visual and location-based dimension to the app. Inspired by Snapchat’s Snap Map, this tool allows users to see geotagged posts, reels, and stories shared by friends or creators in specific locations.

Users can also share their current location with selected contacts, and privacy settings allow full control, ranging from sharing with all friends to limiting it to a curated list. The map feature appears at the top of the direct messages inbox and, like other updates, is currently rolling out in the US before a global expansion.

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For teens, the platform has introduced parental controls to monitor who they’re sharing their location with, offering an added layer of safety.

New features aim to strengthen connections

Alongside these, Instagram is introducing a Friends tab in Reels, where users can view content their friends have interacted with. This includes reels they’ve liked, reposted, or commented on, and helps create a shared space for discovering content together.

With these updates, Instagram is clearly shifting towards a more socially connected experience, making it easier to not just post, but to participate in meaningful digital interactions.

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