Instagram is developing a feature that allows users to remove themselves from another person’s Close Friends list. Meta confirmed the development to TechCrunch on Friday, stating the feature remains in early stages without public testing.
The Close Friends feature, launched in 2018, enables users to share Stories, Reels, and posts with a select group instead of their full follower base. Until now, recipients could not opt out of someone else’s Close Friends list.
Reverse engineer Alessandro Paluzzi first identified the internal prototype. A screenshot he shared shows a warning: users who leave a Close Friends list will lose access to that person’s Close Friends content unless added back.
Snapchat, a key competitor, already permits users to remove themselves from private stories, a comparable function.
Instagram has not disclosed a timeline or confirmed public rollout for the removal option.
In related developments, Meta announced earlier this week plans to test subscription models offering exclusive features on Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp.
Paluzzi detailed potential Instagram premium perks: creating unlimited audience lists, identifying followers who do not follow back, and viewing Stories without the poster’s knowledge.
Meta aims to deliver special features and enhanced sharing controls through these subscriptions while maintaining free core experiences. The company plans to experiment with various features and bundles, with each app providing unique exclusives.
