Instagram testing ‘repost’ feature, to introduce a new ‘Reposts’ tab

Picture Courtesy: Twitter/Matt Navarra

According to reports, Instagram is testing a new ‘Report’ feature on its platform. This feature will allow users to repost others’ posts or Reels. Social media analyst, Matt Navarra, spotted this feature an also shared the screenshot on twitter. It showed a new profile tab called “Reposts”. Instagram later confirmed it was testing the feature in a statement to TechCrunch.

In their statement Instagram said, “We’re exploring the ability to reshare posts in Feed – similar to how you can reshare in Stores – so people can share what resonates with them, and so original creators are credited for their work[…] We plan to test this soon with a small number of people.”

Currently the only way users can share other’s story or post is via their own story, which expires in 24 hours. This new “Repost” feature would work by sending a reposted reel or post to a user’s followers’ main feeds rather than in stories. Both Twitter and TikTok each have their own similar feature.

This change comes at a time when Instagram is trying too hard to mimic what TikTok has. In recent times, Instagram has made a major push with Reels and video content, and not long before that, it was pushing the shop feature - putting the social app’s original vision of a place for sharing photos on the backburner in efforts to compete with the intense popularity of short-video platform TikTok.