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Instagram Introduces Friends’ Engagement Tab for Reels

18/1/25

By:

Amitabh Srivastav

A new feature brings back visibility into friends’ likes and comments.

A new feature brings back visibility into friends’ likes and comments.

Introduction

Instagram is rolling out a fresh update aimed at enhancing social connections through Reels. The platform now includes a tab in the Reels feed displaying videos that users’ friends have liked or commented on. This update echoes the app’s old “activity” feed, retired in 2019, while aligning with modern short-form video trends.

The New Engagement Tab

This update allows users to:

  • See which friends have liked or commented on specific Reels.

  • View temporary “notes” left by friends on videos.

Instagram head Adam Mosseri emphasized that this feature aims to turn Instagram into a hub for connecting over content with friends, not just a platform for entertainment.

Potential Reactions

While fostering interaction, this change might be met with mixed feelings:

  • For: Strengthens social connections by highlighting shared interests.

  • Against: Raises privacy concerns, as users might not want their likes and comments broadly visible.

The reintroduction of this feature, albeit redesigned, mirrors past debates about overexposure of user activity.

Reels vs. TikTok

This move comes as Instagram continues to compete with TikTok for user engagement. With TikTok potentially facing restrictions in the US, Instagram is positioning Reels as a viable alternative. However, creators often note that Reels lacks TikTok’s vibrant and personalized atmosphere.

Conclusion

The new friends’ engagement tab signals Instagram’s intent to blend social networking with content discovery. As with all updates, user adoption will depend on how well it balances enhanced connections with personal privacy.

Stay tuned for more updates from Kushal Bharat Tech News!



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