Instagram will show your friends what Reels you’ve liked

Instagram is reviving a feature reminiscent of its old "activity" feed, this time reimagined for the Reels era. A new tab in the Reels section will now showcase videos that a user’s friends have liked or commented on, Instagram head Adam Mosseri announced in a video update. Users will be able to see which friends have participated in a video and see any temporary "annotations" they've left on it  a return to a controversial feature Instagram removed in 2019.

Mosseri said the goal is to make Instagram not only a platform for consuming entertainment content, but also a platform for building connections around that content. This feature can be a cause for concern, however. Many users may be reluctant to let their friends see every wheel they like, especially when personal preferences don't always align with shared social circles. 

This public activity feed can prevent users from engaging with posts to avoid unwanted exposure. Competing platforms to Instagram, such as X (formerly Twitter), have gone in the opposite direction, hiding posts that users have liked to avoid potential embarrassment or unexpected drama. The feature comes at a critical time for Instagram, as its biggest competitor TikTok is being banned in the US. Reels has been working hard to replicate TikTok’s engaging atmosphere and personal experience. 

While the new feature may encourage some users to spend more time on their Reels, it could alienate others who prefer the anonymity and personalized content that TikTok offers. Meta has yet to clarify whether users can opt out of having their activity displayed in this new Reels feed. It remains to be seen whether this feature will improve connections or have the opposite effect, creating unnecessary tension among users.