Social media giant Instagram introduces long-anticipated new feature
Instagram Introduces New Repost Feature and Map Tool
Social media giant Instagram has rolled out two new features aimed at enhancing user engagement and interaction. The platform's latest addition, the Reshare option, allows users to share someone else's public feed posts or Reels directly with their followers without the need for screenshots or third-party apps.
To use the Reshare feature, simply tap the circular arrows icon on a public post or Reel. You can optionally add your own comment or "thought" before reposting. The reposted content appears in a dedicated Reposts tab on your profile, where your followers can see it, along with any added commentary. Comments made on that reposted content show up as direct messages to you.
This feature is reminiscent of quote tweets on Twitter, as both let you reshare others’ original content prominently to your own audience and allow you to add your own commentary or context. However, Instagram's reposts appear in a separate Reposts tab on your profile instead of your main feed, and commenting on reposts triggers DMs rather than public replies.
Instagram's Reshare feature is primarily focused on visual content (photos, carousels, Reels), while quote tweets are text-based with embedded tweets. The Reshare tool is available for both Reels and static posts.
In addition to the Reshare feature, Instagram has also introduced the Instagram Map tool. This feature allows users to share their locations with friends and check out content from different locations within a map view. Instagram Map is turned off by default and requires users to opt in for location sharing. Users can choose to share their location with mutuals, Close Friends, and only selected friends. They can also block location sharing from certain spots and restrict selected accounts from viewing their location on Instagram Map.
Instagram Map will display various types of content, such as reels, posts, and stories, for 24 hours from the time it was originally shared. The platform has emphasised that users' privacy and safety are of utmost importance, and they have the control to manage their location sharing settings.
Meta, the parent company of Instagram, suggests that the Reshare feature could provide content creators with more visibility, helping them reach a wider audience and increase engagement. The Reshare option shows the number of times it has been reshared, similar to the number of comments, likes, and DMs.
It appears that Instagram is drawing inspiration from Snapchat with its new Instagram Map tool, and from other platforms for its Reshare feature. The Reshare option credits the original poster when a post is reposted, ensuring that credit is given where it is due.
With these new features, Instagram continues to innovate and adapt to the changing needs of its users, providing them with more ways to connect, engage, and share on the platform.
[1] Instagram Help Centre: Resharing posts and Reels [2] Twitter Help Centre: Quote tweets [4] TechCrunch: Instagram adds repost feature to compete with TikTok and Snapchat [5] The Verge: Instagram adds a dedicated tab for reposts on profiles
Technology continues to reshape social-media landscapes, as Instagram introduces the Reshare feature, allowing users to share visual content from others and the Instagram Map tool for location-based content interaction. This entertainment-focused evolution aims to boost user engagement and foster connections among Instagram users.
