Instagram is launching a Close Friends feature for Stories – here’s how to use it

Now you can select a few people to see certain Stories and posts on Instagram 
Instagram
Amelia Heathman30 November 2018

I, for one, love Instagram Stories. It offers a way to express creativity through Superzoom, Boomerang, and those great GIFs without the rigidity of the grid. And, the ephemeral nature makes it all the more fun too.

However, sometimes you might want to post a story without all your Instagram followers seeing it, say if you’re on holiday or you're out for drinks and don't want your boss to know.

Now you can share your favourite Instagram Stories posts with a few select people, thanks to the app’s new Close Friends Feature.

“Instagram Stories has become the place to express yourself and share everyday moments, but our community has grown — sometimes what you want to share isn't for everyone. With Close Friends, you have the flexibility to share more personal moments with a smaller group that you choose,” said Instagram.

Instagram

How to create Close Friends on Instagram Stories

  1. Go to your profile and tap on “Close Friends” in the side menu
     
  2. Here, you can add the select people you want to only see certain Instagram posts 
     
  3. When you share a picture or video on Stories, you have the option to share with just the people on the Close Friends list
     
  4. Select this option and share the posts you want, without everyone on the platform being able to see them

Social media platforms, including Instagram and Twitter, have been actively encouraging its users to think about the time they spend online.

Whether it’s decreasing the emphasis of follower counts, or showing you how much time you’re spending in a specific app, features like this are all part of the new digital wellbeing push from tech companies.

The Close Friends feature is another example of this. It’s a way to encourage people to not broadcast their entire lives online, but think about what they’re sharing and who they’re sharing it with.

This is why only you can see your own Close Friends list and no one can request to be added, so you can adjust it anytime.

How to select your own Close Friends list on Instagram
Instagram

However, people will know if they are on your list, as they will see a green badge when they view your stories.

Instagram says Close Friends be rolling out today on the latest version of the iOS and Android apps so update your Instagram app to access the new feature.

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