Observed Signal · Aug 7, 2025 · Product Launch · Source: OnlineMarketing.de · Impact: 4/5 · Sentiment: Neutral
Instagram launches Reposts, Map and Friends Tab
Instagram rolled out three feature updates aimed at increasing social proximity: Reposts with attribution and a dedicated Repost tab in profiles; Instagram Map, a location-sharing tool that shows recently active positions to selected contacts in Direct Messages; and a Friends Tab inside Reels that surfaces content liked or reposted by friends. Reposts are curated, publicly shared and permanently visible, with the original creator credited and a short note possible. The Repost tab aggregates all reposted content (Reels and Feed posts) by publication time and is accessed via a two-arrow icon in the profile; rollout is gradual and not yet universal. Instagram Map enables configurable privacy, can be turned off, and includes enhanced controls for under-18 users; testing begins in the United States before international rollout. The Friends Tab mirrors a social-graph concept, showing interactions from friends and enabling users to mute or hide content. The update reflects Instagram’s push toward closer, more social interactions on the platform.
Major platform feature updates (Instagram) with new Repost, Map and Friends Tab
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- Instagram launches Repost feature with a Repost Tab in profiles.
- Reposts are credited to the original creator and can boost reach even if the reposting user does not follow the original account.
- Repost Tab collects all publicly reposted content (Reels and Feed posts), sorted by publication time.
- Instagram Map enables location sharing with selected contacts, with 24-hour visibility and configurable privacy; testing starts in the USA before international rollout.
- Friends Tab in Reels shows Reels liked or reposted by friends; users can disable the feature or mute content.
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Instagram Edits App Now Supports Carousel Creation
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OpenAI defends advertising in ChatGPT for humanity's benefit
At Advertising Week New York, OpenAI's VP of monetization partnerships, Samantha Jacobson, defended the company's move to introduce ads in ChatGPT, framing it as a way to make AGI benefits accessible to all, since not everyone can pay for subscriptions. She emphasized consumer trust as paramount, even at the expense of revenue, and contrasted ChatGPT's intent-based advertising with traditional demographic targeting, which she called 'creepy.' OpenAI's ad business has grown rapidly: ads launched in February, a self-serve ad manager in the US in May, and by late August reached a $1 billion annualized run rate, with tens of thousands of advertisers in over 40 countries. The company reportedly targets $2.5 billion in ad revenue this year and $100 billion by 2030. Jacobson's comments come amid broader industry skepticism about ad-funded models and privacy concerns.
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