Instagram is currently in the testing phase of a new feature that will allow users to repost posts, a spokesperson for the company confirmed to TechCrunch. This development has been anticipated since 2022 when the social media platform was first seen working on this feature.
Some users have reported that they have already seen the repost feature on their accounts. One user mentioned that users will have the ability to repost their own content as well as posts from other users.
If Instagram decides to officially roll out this change, it may not sit well with everyone as it would introduce another content format to a platform already filled with posts, Stories, Reels, Notes, DMs, ads, and more. On the other hand, some users might welcome this change as it will allow them to easily share and promote interesting content, similar to other social media platforms.
Currently, users can share someone’s post in their Story, but the upcoming repost feature will enable them to reshare posts directly in Instagram’s Feed. Many users currently resort to workarounds and third-party apps to repost content, so having an official repost feature would eliminate the need for such alternatives.
The repost functionality could be beneficial for creators as it could help them extend their reach and increase their visibility. Moreover, Instagram often sees reposted memes and photos without proper credit to the original posters, so introducing a repost feature could ensure that creators are appropriately recognized when their content is shared widely.
It is logical for Instagram to introduce reposting capabilities, considering that this format has been embraced by other social networks like Threads and TikTok. The concept of reposts was popularized by Twitter with the introduction of the “Retweet” feature back in 2009.
As with any test feature, there is no definite timeline for when or if Instagram will make the repost functionality available to all users.