New on Instagram: Share Posts and Reels Privately with 'Close Friends' – Quick Guide

Instagram has long provided users with the option to share stories and posts exclusively with their ' Close Friends .' For those unfamiliar with the feature, it enables users to selectively share content with a chosen group, ensuring that individuals outside this circle cannot view their stories.

In a recent announcement on his Meta broadcast channel, Mark Zuckerberg revealed the expansion of the 'Close Friends' feature to include Feed and Reels . This enhancement allows users to share a broader range of content within a more confined group.

Originally introduced in 2018, the 'Close Friends' feature was designed to offer a level of privacy by restricting story visibility to a select group. Now, Instagram users can extend this exclusivity to their feed posts and reels. This functionality empowers users to share specific content that they might otherwise avoid posting publicly.

This expanded feature enables users to tailor their content to a private community without setting their entire accounts to 'Private.' By doing so, they can create a more intimate and personalised experience, limiting the reach of specific posts to only a chosen audience.

How To Share A Post or Reel Only With Close Friends?
To share a post or Reel exclusively with close friends, users can navigate to the 'Audience' option when preparing to share a post. Within the 'Audience' section, selecting 'Close Friends' restricts the content to this specific group.

While the option to share with 'Everyone' remains, the addition of 'Close Friends' offers a more nuanced approach. Posts and Reels shared in this manner will be distinguished by a green star, signalling that they are intended solely for the user's close friends.