Instagram’s New Repost, Map & Friends Tab: Features Borrowed from X & Snapchat

Instagram’s New Repost and Map Features Are Taken Straight from Other Social Apps

Instagram has recently unveiled a suite of new features designed to enhance how users share content and connect. Among these are a repost tool and a live location-sharing option, both of which bear a striking resemblance to popular functionalities found on X (formerly Twitter) and Snapchat.

Repost Feature

The newly introduced Repost feature allows users to share public Reels and feed posts directly to their followers’ feeds, much like the Retweet function on X. When you repost content, it becomes visible to your followers and is recommended in their feeds. For easy access later, all reposted content is also stored in a dedicated tab on your profile.

Instagram confirms that original creators are always credited when their content is reposted. This new avenue offers creators a fresh way to gain visibility, as their posts can now reach users who don’t directly follow them but are connected to someone who reposted their content. You can even add a short note to any repost by typing into the “thought bubble” after tapping the repost icon.

Location Sharing

Drawing inspiration from Snapchat’s well-known map feature, Instagram is rolling out its own location-sharing tool via the new Instagram Map. Users can opt-in to share their last active location with selected friends or Close Friends. This feature is disabled by default, giving users complete control over who sees their location and when.

If enabled, Instagram will update your location whenever you open or return to the app. The map also highlights location-tagged content, such as Reels, Stories, and posts from users you follow or have mutual connections with. This content remains visible for 24 hours and can be accessed directly from the top of your Direct Message (DM) inbox.

For parents who have supervision settings activated, notifications will be sent when their teens begin sharing location data. Parents can then review who the teen is sharing with and manage access to the feature entirely.

Friends Tab Expands Reels Discovery

Instagram is also launching a Friends tab within Reels. This new tab will showcase public Reels that friends have interacted with, along with content recommendations from “Blends,” Instagram’s collaborative tool that combines preferences from users and their friends. Initially rolled out earlier this year, the Friends tab is now globally available.

Currently, the location-sharing feature is live in the United States, with Instagram confirming plans for broader international availability in the near future.