Instagram always tries to cater to users' preferences for a more personalized and exclusive sharing experience. One such example is the Close Friends feature, a tool that allows users to curate a select audience for their Stories. While this feature has been a staple for sharing Stories, recent developments allow Instagram to explore ways to extend this exclusivity to other content types, such as posts and Reels.
How? Explaining below.
What Are Instagram Close Friends?
Instagram's "Close Friends" feature, rolled out back in 2018, initially allowed users to share their Stories with a selected group of people rather than with all of their followers. When you add someone to your close friends list, they will see a green badge when viewing your Stories, indicating that they are part of your close friends' audience.
Instagram's latest feature, however, allows users to limit their posts, including Reels, to just their close friends as well. This provides a more private and exclusive sharing experience, transforming your Instagram feed into a space filled with content from a more intimate community.
How to Share Reels & Posts Only with Close Friends on Instagram
Here's a step-by-step guide on how to post Reels and posts exclusively for your close friends.
1. Update your Instagram app or ensure that you have the latest version of the Instagram app installed on your device.
2. Identify your close friends.
Before you start posting, make sure you've curated a list of close friends on Instagram. You can do this by going to your profile, tapping on the three horizontal lines in the top right corner, selecting "Close Friends," and adding or removing accounts as needed.
3. Create your post or reel.
Craft your post or reel as you normally would. This could be a photo, video, or a creative reel that you want to share exclusively with your close friends.
4. Access the audience settings.
When you're ready to share your content, you'll encounter the audience settings just before posting. Look for the "Audience" option; it's typically located in the same area where you add captions and tags.
5. Choose Close Friends.
Select the "Audience" option, and then choose "Close Friends" from the available options. This will ensure that only the users on your close friends list will be able to see your post or reel.
6. Complete the posting process.
After selecting "Close Friends," click on "Done" or any similar confirmation button. This step confirms that you want to limit the visibility of your post to your close friends.
7. Share your post.
Once you've completed the audience selection, proceed with sharing your post or reel as you normally would. Your content will now be visible exclusively to the users on your close friends list.
Users who are part of your close friends list will see a green star icon next to your post or reel in their feed. This indicates that the content is shared only with close friends, creating a sense of exclusivity.
Close Friends on Instagram: FAQ
How to Create a Close Friends List on Instagram
To make a Close Friends list, start creating a new story, and locate the small star icon at the bottom of the screen. Tap on it, then select "Add to List." As the list is not yet created, Instagram will prompt you to do so. Click "Get Started," and either choose users from the suggested list or enter their usernames manually.
Alternatively, you can create a Close Friends list by navigating to your Instagram profile page, clicking on the three lines in the upper right, selecting "Close Friends," and once again opting to "Get Started." Enter the usernames of the desired users or simply press "Add" on Instagram's suggested user list.
How to Check If You Are on Someone’s Close Friends List on Instagram
The only way to figure this out is to wait until those who have added you to it will share stories, reels, or posts. If you are on the list, their content will show up with a green ring indicator. There is no other way to find out if you are added to the list or not.