“Instagram Could Soon Let You Escape from Someone’s Close Friends List!” | TechCrunch

Instagram is in the process of developing a new feature that will enable users to remove themselves from another individual’s “Close Friends” list, as reported by Meta to TechCrunch on Friday. The company indicates that this feature is still in the preliminary stages of development and is not yet undergoing public testing.

The Close Friends feature allows users to share Stories, Reels, and posts with a select group of individuals, rather than their entire follower base. Since its introduction in 2018, users have not had the capability to remove themselves from another user’s Close Friends list.

The internal prototype was initially discovered by reverse engineer Alessandro Paluzzi, known for identifying unreleased features while they are still under development.

According to a screenshot shared by Paluzzi, Meta will notify users that if they opt to leave a Close Friends list, they will lose access to that person’s Close Friends content unless they are re-added to the list.

While some may feel offended when others choose to leave their Close Friends list, this feature is likely to be appreciated by those who prefer not to be included on specific individuals’ lists.

It’s important to mention that Snapchat, one of Instagram’s primary competitors, already permits its users to remove themselves from someone’s private story, which is a similar functionality.

As is the case with any internal prototype, it remains unclear when or if Instagram will officially release this feature.

In addition to updates related to Close Friends, Instagram is also exploring other innovative features. Meta informed TechCrunch earlier this week about plans to test new subscription options that would provide users with exclusive features across Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp.

While Meta has not disclosed specific details regarding the features included in these subscriptions, Paluzzi noted that a premium subscription on Instagram might allow users to create unlimited audience lists, identify followers who do not return the follow, and view Stories without alerting the poster.

Meta aims to enhance user experience with the upcoming subscriptions by offering special features and greater control over sharing and connection, while keeping fundamental services free. The company appears to be open to various strategies, planning to test a range of subscription functionalities and packages, each app boasting a unique set of exclusive features.