Sometimes you might want to share something more intimate on Instagram. Fortunately, the app allows you to post content only for close friends. This article demonstrates how to share on Instagram for a select audience.
Good to know: find out how to post a Live photo on Instagram by checking out our guide.
How to Create an Instagram Close Friends List
Instagram has a Close Friends feature that allows you to create a list of your closest friends with whom you should feel comfortable sharing anything. Before sharing your posts with this group of select accounts, you will first need to create the said list of friends.
PC
If you’re browsing Instagram on PC, no problem, you can create your list of close friends from inside your browser. Go to the Instagram page and click on the More button in the lower left of the display. Select Settings.
Select Close Friends from the menu on the left.
Tick the checkbox next to the name of the friend you want to add to your Close Friends list. You can add as many as you want. When you’re done, simply return to the app. Instagram will automatically save your list.
Mobile
On mobile, open the Instagram app and go to your profile page.
Tap on the hamburger menu in the upper right corner.
Select Close Friends in the Who can see your content section.
Tap on your friends’ names to select them. Press Done once you’re finished with your selection.
Unlike Facebook, Instagram doesn’t let you create multiple custom audience lists. On the bright side, you can easily modify your Close Friends list on Instagram to include and exclude people whenever the need arises.
Tip: did you know you can change the background color for your Instagram Story? Here’s how.
How to Share Content on Instagram Only with Close Friends
You can share various types of content on Instagram with your Close Friends list, including regular posts, Stories, Reels, or Live videos.
Posts & Reels
You can only share a regular post or Reel with your Close Friends from the mobile app. Go to the new post creation screen and select the type of post you wish to share.
Go through the stages of creating a post or Reel such as uploading or shooting a photo or video. Add your edits. Finally, when you reach the final New Post/Reel screen, look for Audience and tap on it.
Select Close Friends in the pop-up that appears, then tap Done.
Now you can press Share in the New Post/Reel screen.
Tip: learn how to enhance your Instagram Story by adding music to it.
Stories
Instagram makes it even easier to post a Story only for Close Friends.
Just create a new Story as you normally would and when you’re ready to post it, press on the Close Friends button.
The Story will be posted immediately and will be visible only to your selected friends. Such a Story will appear featuring a green circle at the top of the Instagram feed.
Live
You can also stream a live video to an audience of your choice, such as Close Friends.
Start a live on Instagram as you normally would, but before pressing the Go Live button, tap on the button above, which by default should say Everyone.
Select Close Friends from the pop-up at the bottom. Now, only people in this list will be notified when you go live.
FYI: don’t want to spend so much time on social media? You can start by deleting or deactivating your Instagram account.
How to Quickly Edit Close Friends List on Instagram After Posting
If you realize you’ve forgotten to add someone to the list, or you want to take someone off it, but you’ve already shared the content, no problem.
Find the post you’ve shared only for Close Friends. Whether it’s a regular post, Story, Reel tap on it to open it. You should see a small green badge with a star on it in the upper right corner or at the bottom of the display.
Tap on the badge.
Select Edit your Close Friends list.
From here, you can easily add or remove people from the list.
Now that you’ve shared your latest post with your Close Friends on Instagram, you’re probably wondering when they’ll be online. You can check their Activity Status, but if you can’t see it, here are the top reasons why it’s not appearing for you. On the other hand, if Instagram is not working for you at all, you might want to check this list of fixes and see if they can help.
Image credit: Pexels All screenshots by Alexandra Arici
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