Instagram May Allow Users To Opt Out Of Others’ Close Friends Stories

Instagram is reportedly working on a new feature that will allow users to remove themselves from another person’s ‘Close Friends’ list, giving them the choice to opt out of viewing private Stories and Reels.

According to a TechCrunch report, the option is still under development and has not yet been rolled out for public testing.

The unreleased feature was first discovered by reverse engineer Alessandro Paluzzi, who shared screenshots showing how the self-removal option could appear within the app.

Before leaving a Close Friends list, the app will reportedly warn users that they will lose access to that person’s Close Friends content unless the user adds them back again.

While many users have long requested such an option, its introduction could create awkward social moments by clearly signalling withdrawal from a private sharing circle.

Instagram rival Snapchat already allows users to remove themselves from another person’s ‘Best Friends’ list, a similar feature that has been available for some time.

Alongside this potential update, Meta is also testing paid subscription services across Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp.

The company has confirmed plans to introduce subscription tiers that unlock premium tools designed to enhance creativity, productivity, and AI-powered features, while keeping core services free.

Meta said it will roll out the subscriptions gradually, with each app offering different bundles instead of a uniform model.

A key element of Meta’s strategy involves scaling up Manus, an AI agent reportedly acquired for $2 billion.

Meta plans to integrate Manus directly into its apps while continuing to offer it as a standalone business service.

Early signs of this integration are already emerging, as reports indicate that Instagram is developing a Manus shortcut.