Instagram new features 2025: Reposts, Map, Friends tab, Quiet Posting + Edit gets its own app
Instagram new features 2025 – What new features are available on Instagram? Instagram is constantly evolving and introducing features that facilitate creative work and promote community building – in short, Insta is becoming even more personal. Some updates are reminiscent of functions on other networks such as TikTok or Snapchat, but are tailored to the meta world. Here you can find the most important new features (also in use at our Instagram agency) and what they mean for your marketing. The new Instagram updates, let’s go!
Reposts, map and friends tab

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Let’s start with reposts, map and friends tabs! Here are the new Instagram functions explained step by step:
With reposts, you can easily share posts and reels – visible on your profile. This is reminiscent of Twitter/X, where reposts are central, but is expanded on Instagram with additional notes and context. The new map works in a similar way to Snap Maps: Users discover content based on location, ideal for local events or stores. The Friends tab shows which content your friends like, comment on or repost – a function that relies heavily on community dynamics.
- Share reposts for content
- Map with location-based posts
- Friends tab shows activities
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Trial reels and pause function
Trial reels are a test run for your videos: They first appear to non-followers before they become visible in your own feed. This allows you to test content risk-free, similar to A/B tests with YouTube Shorts or TikTok Ads. The pause function improves usability: instead of holding down, a tap is enough to stop reels – a small but important improvement that gives users more control.
- Reels first for non-followers
- Testing without loss of range
- Pause with a single tap
Edits as a standalone video app
Instagram has released its own app, “Edits“, which combines video editing and uploading. Functions such as green screen, AI effects, voice FX and 4K export are strongly reminiscent of CapCut, the standard app for TikTok creators. The difference: Edits is directly integrated into the Meta ecosystem and provides analytics in real time. This positions Instagram more strongly in the creator market and makes third-party apps less necessary.
- Standalone app for editing
- AI effects and green screen
- Real-time analytics included
Quiet posting and flexible grid
Quiet Posting allows you to publish posts without notification – perfect for tests or less important content. Twitter/X had a similar function with “Shadow Tweets” for experiments, but Instagram makes the feature more widely usable. In addition, the profile grid can be reorganized, similar to Pinterest boards or TikTok profiles. This allows campaigns, topics or stories to be staged more visually.
- Posts without notification
- Grid can be sorted as required
Direct messages with new options
DMs get more individuality: nicknames can be assigned in individual and group chats. There are also over 300 sticker packs that make communication more lively – an approach that Snapchat and
- Nicknames in chats
- 300 new sticker packs
- Digital profile maps
Stories with more interaction
Stories become even more communicative: comments are directly visible to the public as long as the story is online. This makes the exchange more dynamic and is similar to YouTube Shorts comments, only for a limited time. At the same time, the profile grid has been changed from 1:1 to 3:4. This change brings Instagram closer to TikTok, where vertical formats have long dominated, and makes profiles more modern and visually exciting.
- Comments under Stories
- Profile in 3:4 format
Opportunities for your Insta marketing?
The new functions are more than just gimmicks. Reposts, Trial Reels and Quiet Posting open up data-driven tests and flexible strategies. Map and Friends tab help with trend tracking and local marketing. Edits strengthen production quality directly in the app, while stories and grid adjustments allow for more visual storytelling. If you cleverly combine Instagram with tools and strategies from other networks, you can build reach more sustainably and scale content with less risk.
- More tests without risk
- Stronger community involvement
- Better visual storytelling
What’s new with TikTok and YouTube?
TikTok and YouTube are further developing their short video formats: YouTube is focusing on AI-generated content and new dubbing options for international reach with Shorts, while TikTok is focusing heavily on creative editing tools and trends in the music sector. In 2025, both platforms will provide tools that make short clips even more global and relevant.
Read more about our Instagram agency, YouTube agency and TikTok agency – One, your marketing agency for performance!