Instagram copies even more TikTok and Snapchat features

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Instagram is rolling out several new features, inspired by rival apps like TikTok and Snapchat, in an attempt to keep users engaged. 

But while the updates offer more ways to interact, they also continue to shift Instagram further away from its photo-sharing roots.

The biggest change? You can now repost other users’ Reels and photo grid posts directly to your own profile, similar to how people reblog on Tumblr or share on TikTok.

These posts will live in a dedicated tab on your profile and show up in your followers’ feeds. 

Until now, the only way to reshare posts was by adding them to your Stories, which disappear after 24 hours. This new repost option makes sharing content more permanent and visible.

Instagram is also introducing a Snapchat-style location map inside your direct messages. 

If your friends opt in, you can see their most recent location on a private map, like if they’re at a concert or a festival. 

The map also highlights popular locations based on public posts, making it easier to discover what’s happening nearby.

Another update is to the Reels interaction tab, which shows what videos your friends have liked or reposted. 

When this launched earlier in the US, many users were uncomfortable with the lack of privacy. 

Now, the feature is going global, but Instagram has added new controls. 

You can choose to hide your activity from others or mute what your friends are watching if it doesn’t interest you.

These updates reflect a larger trend: Instagram is trying to keep up with competitors by borrowing popular features. 

However, it’s also drifting further from what it originally was: a simple way to share photos with friends. 

Many users and creators feel the app is becoming cluttered, and some say their content gets buried by algorithm-driven recommendations and Reels they didn’t ask to see.

Whether these changes will excite users or push them further away remains to be seen. 

Instagram is clearly betting on more video, more sharing, and more features, but not everyone’s convinced it’s the right direction.

Is Instagram’s constant copying of TikTok and Snapchat features helping it stay competitive, or is it losing its unique identity as a photo-sharing platform? Do you think these borrowed features make social media apps feel too similar and cluttered? Tell us below in the comments, or reach us via our Twitter or Facebook.