Instagram Unveils Highly Anticipated Reposting and Location Sharing Features

Instagram has begun rolling out two significant updates that users have eagerly awaited for years, with location sharing initially available to US-based accounts while a global reposting capability expands access. The enhancements are accessible following an app update released today.

The newly implemented location sharing feature allows US users to optionally share their real-time activity status with selected contacts. This data is displayed on an interactive map, offering a visual alternative to the traditional feed format for discovering content from friends and creators. Users retain granular control over location visibility, choosing to share with all followers, designated “Close Friends,” specific individuals, or opting out entirely. Parental controls are also included, allowing guardians to manage their teenagers’ location-sharing permissions.

The new update also includes an additional “Friends” section within the Reels interface, showcasing public content your connections have previously engaged with. The arrival of standard repost functionality resolves previous, cumbersome workarounds involving Stories sharing – a frequently cited user inconvenience. Instagram notes that reposted content “may be recommended” to followers who do not directly follow the original poster, raising questions regarding potential visibility and algorithmic impact within the platform’s complex ranking system.