Last Updated on August 29, 2025 by Val Razo
Instagram is evolving rapidly, offering creators and everyday users new ways to connect with friends and share meaningful content. With the introduction of features like the Friends tab, reposts, and the Instagram map, users now have more control over how their reels and posts appear — and to whom. Whether you’re looking to tailor your reels feed to favorite creators, or hoping to grow your reach via public content your friends have interacted with, understanding these tools is essential.
Instagram’s shift toward content-based engagement — including the ability to repost public reels, see where creators are posting from interesting or fun locations, and use a new tab to display content — marks a new phase of platform personalization. Features like location sharing on the map, the option to share your last active location with friends, and the tab at the top of your profile for tailored content allow users to build stronger, more intentional digital communities.
In this guide, we’ll explore how to tailor Instagram Reels for the Friends tab vs. the global feed, navigate the reels tab, and use Instagram features like reposted content, location with friends, and new Instagram features to your advantage. Whether you’re a casual user or a serious creator, this strategy can help you create a more personalized and engaging experience on the platform.
Understanding the Friends Tab vs. the Global Feed on Instagram
Instagram’s latest changes are redefining how users engage with content, particularly through the introduction of the Friends tab alongside the global feed. These two sections serve distinct purposes, and understanding how they work is essential for any creator, brand, or everyday user trying to make the most of the platform’s evolving landscape.
Key Differences Between the Friends Tab and Global Feed
The Friends tab is designed to highlight content from people you actually know — including close friends, favorite creators, and followers you follow back. Instead of relying solely on the algorithm, this tab prioritizes public content your friends have interacted with, such as reels and posts they’ve liked, commented on, or reposted. It’s a more content-based and socially relevant experience, giving users a clearer view of what’s trending in their personal circle.
The global feed, on the other hand, is powered almost entirely by Instagram’s recommendation system. It surfaces public reels and feed posts based on interests, behaviors, and engagement metrics, regardless of your relationship with the creator. This is where viral videos, trending audio, and discovery-oriented content dominate.
Additionally, the reels tab acts as an extension of the global feed — showcasing popular and reposted content that helps users find new creators, explore location-based trends via the Instagram map, and stay ahead of what’s performing well across the platform.
While the Friends tab is personal and relationship-driven, the global feed is optimized for scale and reach. If you want to boost engagement with specific people or your selected friends, the Friends tab is your target. But if you’re aiming for visibility, growth, and discovery, the global feed is where to focus.
Why Instagram Introduced the Friends Tab
The rollout of the Friends tab reflects a broader shift in how users want to interact on social media. People are increasingly interested in authentic connections, rather than just consuming viral content. Instagram responded to this by offering a space where users can see content from those they care about — not just what’s algorithmically suggested.
This move also coincides with features like location sharing on the map, where users can choose to share their location with friends or even show their last active location. These features give users more ways to interact and connect with friends through content your friends have interacted with or repost public reels you care about.
According to the head of Instagram, these updates are part of a larger initiative to make the app feel more personal and useful in daily life. The Friends tab, paired with tools like the new map, reels feed, and the ability to repost public content, helps users build a stronger sense of community — while still enjoying the benefits of discovery on the platform.
I started sharing behind-the-scenes Reels just with my close friends through the Friends tab. Engagement skyrocketed — my best friend even reposted one, and suddenly it was showing up in everyone’s tab. It felt more authentic, and surprisingly, more impactful than global posts.
How to Tailor a Reel for the Friends Tab
The Friends tab is all about meaningful interactions — not viral reach. When you’re crafting content for this space, the goal is to connect authentically with specific people like your close friends, family, and favorite creators you follow and engage with regularly.
Creating Content to Connect with Friends
To show up in the Friends tab, your Reels should reflect a more personal tone. Instead of broad trends or challenges, focus on content that speaks directly to your friends and favorite creators. Think birthday shoutouts, behind-the-scenes clips, shared memories, or updates on your day. When your followers you follow back engage with that content — by liking, commenting, or sharing — it’s more likely to be shown in the Friends tab.
Adding a personal touch also means incorporating tools like location with friends. You can share your location with friends when posting from interesting or fun locations, helping deepen the connection with those closest to you. This can also trigger content visibility on the Instagram map, giving your posts an added layer of relevance within your inner circle.
Using hashtags that reflect your shared interests, keeping captions casual and conversational, and engaging in comments are all ways to strengthen your placement in this space.
Leveraging New Instagram Features for Closer Connections
Instagram has rolled out new Instagram features that help users create content specifically for the Friends tab. One of the most useful is the tab in Reels that shows content your friends have recently interacted with or reposted. If your Reel gets strong engagement from people you’re connected to — especially if they repost public reels you create — you’ll likely see it surface in their Friends tabs.
Additionally, the platform’s recent location sharing upgrades let you responsibly share your location with selected friends, allowing them to open the map to see where you were when posting. This feature adds context and creates more intimate storytelling opportunities.
You can also utilize tools like mute and last active location with friends to control who sees your content and who you interact with. This gives you more privacy while still encouraging interaction within a trusted circle.
By using these tools, Reels for the Friends tab become a way to connect, not just a content push. Prioritize authenticity over perfection — and use every new feature strategically to create an experience that feels personal and engaging.
44% of users say they’re more likely to interact with content if it includes location tagging.
Optimizing Reels for the Global Feed
If your goal is to grow your presence beyond your personal network, the global feed is where you need to focus. Unlike the Friends tab, the global feed thrives on performance-driven content: Reels and posts that are visually engaging, trend-savvy, and designed to attract attention from people you don’t yet follow.
Using Reels and Posts to Boost Discoverability
To succeed in the global feed, your content needs to be optimized for discoverability. This means taking full advantage of new Instagram features like trending audio, eye-catching transitions, and keyword-rich captions. These elements help your public reels and posts surface through the algorithm, exposing your content to new users.
Reposting also plays a key role. When others repost public reels you’ve created, Instagram treats that as a positive engagement signal, pushing the content higher in the feed. To increase the chances of this happening, create share-worthy Reels that either entertain, inform, or emotionally connect with a broader audience.
Make sure your posts are categorized correctly. When you tap the repost icon, ensure your reel is public, properly tagged, and engaging enough that viewers are likely to interact or share it further. You can also prompt this behavior with call-to-actions like “Tag a friend who needs to see this” or “Repost if this speaks to you.”
How the Instagram Map and Reels Tab Affect Visibility
Instagram is now placing greater emphasis on location-based content, especially within the reels tab and the new Instagram map. When users open the map to see where content is being created — especially in interesting or fun locations — they can discover your posts even if they don’t follow you.
This makes location sharing on the map a valuable tool for reaching new audiences. If you’re a creator posting from popular or buzzworthy areas, enabling live location updates can help place your content in discovery feeds for nearby users or those exploring that area on the map. Instagram only updates location whenever you open the app or return, so users maintain control over their location sharing.
The reels tab is also an important hub for discovery. It displays trending and reposted content, allowing your work to be seen by thousands — if not millions — of potential new followers. The better your Reel performs in terms of likes and comments, the more likely it is to be pushed into this space.
By combining strategic content creation, responsible location sharing, and using the Instagram map and reels tab to your advantage, your Reels can achieve viral traction well beyond your personal network.
Adidas ran a location-based campaign using Instagram’s Reels and tagging features during the 2023 Berlin Marathon. By encouraging runners to repost branded Reels with location tags, they boosted reach by 32% in just one weekend.
Smart Repost Strategies for Maximum Engagement
Instagram’s repost feature is no longer just a convenience — it’s a powerful strategy for amplifying both original and reposted content. But not all reposts are created equal. To truly benefit, users must understand when and how to repost public reels effectively, and how these choices affect their visibility in both the Friends tab and global feed.
Reposts vs. Repost: Which Content Performs Better?
While it might seem like a minor difference, the distinction between reposts (multiple shared pieces of content) and a single repost carries weight in how Instagram classifies and pushes that content. Reposts that come from friends and favorite creators, especially if they’re tagged or credited to the original creator, tend to perform better in the Friends tab. That’s because Instagram rewards content your friends have interacted with or shared.
In contrast, a repost public strategy focused on reach — such as resharing a viral reel — is more likely to gain traction in the global feed. However, Instagram’s algorithm still values originality and meaningful engagement, so simply reposting for views won’t always work. It helps to add personal commentary, meaningful captions, or contextualize the content to boost engagement.
It’s also worth noting that users can now repost directly from the reels feed, making it easier than ever to share content you love — or to have your own content reshared, increasing your exposure.
Best Times and Formats to Repost Reels
Timing is critical. The best windows to tap the repost icon and reshare content tend to be when your audience is most active — often weekday evenings or weekends. Instagram’s analytics tools (available to creators and business accounts) can help determine peak engagement times for your followers.
In terms of format, vertical video still reigns supreme — but now, including a strong hook in the first 3 seconds and adding location with friends you pick can improve visibility on the Instagram map. Reels that include location sharing are eligible for placement in geographically relevant feeds, giving your content an extra edge.
Also, be aware that when you open the app, Instagram may refresh your active location if you’ve opted in. This can tie your reposts to your last active location, which is something to consider if you’re building a location-based content strategy.
Lastly, be sure to use new Instagram features to tag collaborators, use interactive stickers, and encourage likes and comments. These signals increase the chances your reposted content will be seen by a wider audience and possibly land in the Friends tab if it resonates with your social circle.
Navigating Instagram Features to Maximize Reach
To stay ahead on Instagram in 2025, it’s essential to adapt to the platform’s evolving tools. With several new Instagram features rolling out, creators and everyday users have more control than ever over how their content performs — and who sees it. Whether you’re focused on expanding your reels feed visibility or maintaining strong engagement among close friends, using these features strategically can make all the difference.
New Instagram Features to Watch in 2025
Instagram has launched several new features aimed at improving content discovery and social connection. The most talked-about is the enhanced Instagram map, which allows users to use the map to explore content based on location. When you share your location with friends, your post becomes visible not just in the feed, but also on the map — especially in popular or interesting or fun locations. This feature works especially well for creators who want to highlight where they’re posting from.
Another upgrade is the new tab system — a tab at the top of your profile shows your reposted content separately from your original uploads. This helps users and followers differentiate between what you’ve created versus what you’ve shared, and can boost engagement for both.
Instagram also now supports live location updates (only when the app is running in the background) and gives users the option to turn it off anytime. This update helps users responsibly share your location without sacrificing privacy — a feature especially useful for creators who want to maintain safety while still reaching local or interest-based audiences.
You can also mute or adjust notifications for specific users or tags — giving you greater control over how your profile and interactions are curated.
Tools to Track Engagement Across Reels and Posts
Understanding how your reels and posts perform is key to optimizing content strategy. Instagram now offers more detailed insights across both public and reposted content, including who interacted, liked, or commented — and whether the content was surfaced in the Friends tab or through the global feed.
You can also check if your content your friends have interacted with was reposted, and which specific friends have liked or engaged. These metrics are especially valuable for those targeting friends and favorite creators, or tailoring their posts to a niche group.
More advanced metrics also track how users engage with your content via the Instagram map, showing whether users open the map to see your reel, or if your location is updated whenever you open the app. This data can help you determine whether location sharing is boosting visibility or not.
Creators now also receive performance notifications when their public content is being shared more widely — including alerts like “Your friends have interacted with this post” or “This reel was reposted by others.”
By keeping up with Instagram’s several new tools and tracking what works, you’ll not only stay relevant but also grow your audience strategically — both in your inner circle and across the platform.
When I reposted a public Reel from a creator in Tokyo and added a location, I didn’t expect much. But thanks to the Instagram map, people exploring that area started watching it — and my follower count went up by 10% in a week.
Navigating Instagram Features to Maximize Reach
To stay ahead on Instagram in 2025, it’s essential to adapt to the platform’s evolving tools. With several new Instagram features rolling out, creators and everyday users have more control than ever over how their content performs — and who sees it. Whether you’re focused on expanding your reels feed visibility or maintaining strong engagement among close friends, using these features strategically can make all the difference.
New Instagram Features to Watch in 2025
Instagram has launched several new features aimed at improving content discovery and social connection. The most talked-about is the enhanced Instagram map, which allows users to use the map to explore content based on location. When you share your location with friends, your post becomes visible not just in the feed, but also on the map — especially in popular or interesting or fun locations. This feature works especially well for creators who want to highlight where they’re posting from.
Another upgrade is the new tab system — a tab at the top of your profile shows your reposted content separately from your original uploads. This helps users and followers differentiate between what you’ve created versus what you’ve shared, and can boost engagement for both.
Instagram also now supports live location updates (only when the app is running in the background) and gives users the option to turn it off anytime. This update helps users responsibly share your location without sacrificing privacy — a feature especially useful for creators who want to maintain safety while still reaching local or interest-based audiences.
You can also mute or adjust notifications for specific users or tags — giving you greater control over how your profile and interactions are curated.
Tools to Track Engagement Across Reels and Posts
Understanding how your reels and posts perform is key to optimizing content strategy. Instagram now offers more detailed insights across both public and reposted content, including who interacted, liked, or commented — and whether the content was surfaced in the Friends tab or through the global feed.
You can also check if your content your friends have interacted with was reposted, and which specific friends have liked or engaged. These metrics are especially valuable for those targeting friends and favorite creators, or tailoring their posts to a niche group.
More advanced metrics also track how users engage with your content via the Instagram map, showing whether users open the map to see your reel, or if your location is updated whenever you open the app. This data can help you determine whether location sharing is boosting visibility or not.
Creators now also receive performance notifications when their public content is being shared more widely — including alerts like “Your friends have interacted with this post” or “This reel was reposted by others.”
By keeping up with Instagram’s several new tools and tracking what works, you’ll not only stay relevant but also grow your audience strategically — both in your inner circle and across the platform.
Instagram Reels generate 67% more engagement than regular video posts.
Conclusion
As Instagram continues to evolve, understanding how to tailor content for both the Friends tab and the global feed is essential for building authentic connections and expanding your reach. Whether you’re sharing a Reel with close friends, experimenting with reposted content, or using the Instagram map to highlight your location with friends, every tool offers new ways to grow and engage.
Creators who adapt to new Instagram features — including the reels tab, location sharing, and advanced repost options — will be best positioned to build communities and stay visible in both personalized and public spaces. The future of content is content-based and interaction-driven. Use these strategies to stay ahead and keep your Reels relevant, discoverable, and impactful.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Instagram map feature and how does it work?
The map feature on Instagram allows users to map and see where content has been shared publicly. You can open the map to explore photos and videos by location — a great way to see content in interesting or fun places. The map also shows where your friends have engaged with content, making discovery more social.
What is the new “Friends” feature on Instagram?
The new “Friends” tab highlights activity from people you follow, including favorite creators are posting and what your connections have liked or shared. This personalized feed appears in a separate tab on your profile, making it easier to browse content relevant to your social circle.
How does location sharing work on Instagram’s map?
Instagram users can now opt in to sharing their location with selected friends. When enabled, the location sharing is off unless the app is running in the background or you return to the app. This ensures privacy while still offering an enhanced sharing experience on the map.
Can I control who sees my posts on the Instagram map?
Yes, users can choose to responsibly share their location. When posting, you decide whether your location appears on the map to see content, and only users with access (like friends or followers) will see it. It adds context to your content without compromising control.
What are “new reposts” and how are they labeled?
New reposts are labeled directly on the content, often credited to the original poster for transparency. Whether it’s a Reel or a post, these are shown in the top of the Reels feed or Friends tab if they’ve been shared by someone you follow. You can also open the map to see where these reposts originated if location is included.
Author Bio
Val Razo
Val Razo is a skilled professional in the field of Instagram Marketing. With over five years of experience as a freelance Social Media Marketing consultant, Val has assisted numerous small and medium-sized businesses in achieving their goals.
