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Instagram News: The 3 New Features Agencies & Brands Need to Know About

Written by Cam Khaski Graglia | Oct 2, 2025 12:00:28 PM

We’ve all seen Adam Mosseri’s update on Instagram’s latest features,  Reposts, Friend Map, and a new Friends feed in Reels. At first glance, they feel “social-first,” built to help users connect more closely with their friends. But if you look deeper, these updates can actually be translated into powerful new opportunities for influencer marketing strategies.

Instagram has always been about sharing what you’re doing and where you are. These new tools double down on that promise, making it easier than ever to stay connected through the content people enjoy, but here’s the catch: what friends engage with now has more visibility than ever before.

Repost Reels and Posts You Like the Most!

Instagram’s new 🔁Repost feature makes it easier than ever to amplify content you love and at the same time get your own work amplified in return. Now, you can reshare any public reel or feed post, and it will:

  • Appear in your friends’ and followers’ feeds as a recommendation.
  • Live in a dedicated Reposts tab on your profile, making it simple to revisit or showcase what you’ve shared.

And here’s the best part: every repost automatically credits the original creator.

For creators, this means your content now has more potential to travel beyond your own audience. If someone with a strong network reposts your reel, your content can surface in feeds of people who don’t even follow you yet, a free boost in reach and discoverability.

On the flip side, for agencies and brands working with these creators, this feature has enormous potential. It helps with:

  • Built-in amplification: Your influencer’s branded content isn’t confined to their own followers anymore, now every repost becomes an organic distribution channel.
  • Social proof at scale: When fans repost your campaign content, it signals authenticity and trust, encouraging others to engage.
  • Evergreen showcase: The dedicated Reposts tab means that even after the initial hype, your campaign content continues to live on profiles.

Tip 1# Encourage Share-Worthy Content

Work with influencers to create content that’s funny, inspiring, or educational, the kind of posts people want to reshare.

Tip 2# Seed Early

If you’re launching a campaign, ask a core group of creators to repost content at the same time. The ripple effect can spike visibility in friends’ feeds.

Tip 3# Leverage Fans

Don’t overlook micro-fans. Even small accounts reposting your content can spark discovery in niche communities.

Tip 4# Track the Reposts

Use your reporting tools to measure which creators’ content is generating the most reposts — a clear sign of what resonates.

Tip 5# Repurpose the Momentum

Highlight repost activity in your own stories or posts. It reinforces credibility and encourages even more shares.

A New Way of Connecting with Friends: Instagram’s Map

Instagram just made location sharing more social with the Friend Map. Think of it as a lightweight way to keep up with where your friends  and favorite creators are and what they’re posting.

Here’s how it works:

  • You can opt in to share your live location with friends you choose (Close Friends, mutual followers, or a custom list).
  • Your location updates automatically when you open the app, and you can switch it off at any time.
  • Beyond location, the map also shows content tied to places: reels, posts, stories, and even notes shared within 24 hours.

If you want to learn more about how to share location, visit this guide.

As an agency or a brand working with creators, you can also leverage this feature too, how? Easy! It helps you:

  • Amplify Live Events: Hosting a launch, pop-up, or festival activation? Influencers can share directly from the venue, and their content instantly shows up on the map for nearby users.
  • Drive FOMO: Seeing creators tag themselves at exclusive events or brand activations builds excitement and urgency.
  • Geo-Targeted Engagement: Great for brands with physical locations (retail, restaurants, gyms). The map gives local campaigns an organic way to surface.
  • Blend Digital + IRL: It bridges the gap between influencer content online and real-world experiences, which is increasingly where consumer trust is built.

Tips to Leverage the Map in Campaigns

Tip 1# Use Location Tags Strategically

Always encourage influencers to tag event spaces, stores, or cities to maximize map visibility.

Tip 2# Create Share-Worthy Experiences

The map thrives on fun, “check-in” moments. Think photo walls, exclusive merch drops, or interactive product demos.

Tip 3# Tap Local Influencers

 Micro-influencers tied to a region can surface your brand organically on the map, making campaigns feel authentic and community-driven.

Tip 4# Monitor Discovery

Use social listening or campaign reporting to track how much engagement is driven from geotagged posts a new KPI for map-driven visibility.

Tip 5# Build Campaign Trails

If running a tour (like product trucks or pop-up shops), plan stops with influencers who can share each activation to the map, creating a ripple effect across locations.

Keep in mind that this feature is rolling out in the US now, with global expansion soon, so smart brands will start experimenting early.

Friends Feed in Reels

A new “Friends” tab shows reels friends have liked, commented on, or reposted. It’s a new space where you can see the public content your friends are interacting with. You’ll now get a curated feed of what’s resonating with your circle.

This feature also includes Blends recommendations (shared viewing experiences you start with friends) and controls so you can decide what activity you want others to see (or not).

In short, the Friends tab transforms Reels into a word-of-mouth engine, where you see what’s trending with people you trust most.

Back to how agencies and brands can make the most out of this later new feature, it is basically good for:

  • Peer-to-Peer Discovery: If an influencer engages with your branded content, it can organically surface in their friends’ tabs, multiplying your reach without paid spend.

  • Authenticity Factor: People trust recommendations from friends more than ads. Seeing a reel in this tab feels like a personal suggestion, not a broadcast.

  • Conversation Starter: Content in the Friends tab is easier to discuss, share, and react to, fueling engagement loops around campaigns.

  • Community Building: Perfect for brands leaning into loyalty campaigns, as the Friends tab showcases content in a more intimate, community-driven environment.

Tips to Leverage the Friends Tab

Tip 1#  Prioritize Engagement Hooks

Create reels with prompts (questions, polls, challenges) that encourage interaction, boosting the chance they’ll appear in Friends feeds.

Tip 2#  Work With Relatable Creators

Nano- and micro-influencers shine here because their circles are tight-knit. A like or repost from them carries serious trust.

Tip 3# Encourage Reposting + Commenting

Don’t just ask influencers to post — encourage their followers to engage, so that content spreads through peer networks.

Tip 4#  Blend Campaigns Into Blends

Explore ways to integrate campaigns into Blends so friends can co-discover branded content together.

Tip 5#  Track Virality Beyond Reach

Start monitoring not only impressions but network spillover, how many reposts, likes, or comments came from friend-to-friend amplification.

Recap: The Big Picture

Instagram is clearly leaning into connection + community-driven discovery. For agencies and brands, this shift means:

  • More organic reach (without paying extra).

  • Richer opportunities to blend location + content in activations.

  • Deeper peer-to-peer validation, because people trust what their friends engage with.

So, the next time you’re planning a launch, think about how these features can make your campaign not just visible, but shareable, social, and scalable.