Instagram is working on a new privacy feature that could give users more control over how they appear in other people’s inner circles.
The social media platform is developing a tool that would allow users to remove themselves from someone else’s Close Friends list. The feature is still in early development and is not yet being publicly tested.
What’s changing with Close Friends
Instagram’s Close Friends feature, introduced in 2018, allows users to share Stories, Reels, and posts with a selected audience rather than their full follower list. While users can manage who they add to their own Close Friends list, they currently have no way to opt out if someone else adds them to theirs—short of muting or unfollowing the account entirely.
That limitation may soon change.
The internal prototype was first discovered by well-known reverse engineer Alessandro Paluzzi, who regularly uncovers unreleased Meta features while they are still under development. Screenshots shared by Paluzzi suggest that users will be able to leave a Close Friends list directly, without notifying the person who added them.
However, Instagram will warn users that once they leave a Close Friends list, they will no longer be able to view that person’s Close Friends content unless they are added back again.
Why the feature matters
While Close Friends is meant to foster more personal sharing, it can sometimes put users in uncomfortable social situations—especially when they would prefer not to be part of someone’s private audience.
The ability to quietly remove oneself could be welcomed by users seeking clearer boundaries or more control over their digital relationships. At the same time, it could introduce new social friction, as some people may feel slighted if they notice someone no longer views their Close Friends content.
Still, the move would align Instagram more closely with competitor platforms. Snapchat, for example, already allows users to remove themselves from someone’s private Story, offering a precedent for this type of opt-out control.
As with many internal prototypes, Meta has not confirmed when—or if—the feature will eventually roll out to all users.
Part of a broader shift toward user control
The Close Friends update is just one of several new features Instagram is exploring. Meta recently told TechCrunch that it plans to test paid subscriptions across Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp, giving users access to exclusive tools and enhanced controls.
While Meta has not officially detailed what these subscriptions will include, Paluzzi has reported that a premium Instagram subscription could unlock features such as:
- Creating unlimited audience lists
- Seeing which followers don’t follow you back
- Viewing Stories anonymously, without notifying the poster
Meta says the goal of these subscriptions is to provide power users with additional flexibility and control over how they share content and connect with others, while keeping the core social experience free for everyone.
What to expect next
Meta has emphasized that it is still experimenting with different subscription bundles and feature sets, and that each app—Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp—may offer distinct premium tools rather than a single unified package.
For now, the Close Friends opt-out feature remains under development, with no public testing timeline announced. But its emergence highlights a broader trend: social platforms are increasingly rethinking privacy, boundaries, and user autonomy as online interactions become more nuanced and socially complex.
If released, the feature could mark a small but meaningful shift in how users manage their visibility—and their relationships—on Instagram.
