Instagram Developing Feature to Let Users Remove Themselves from Others’ Close Friends Lists

• February 1, 2026

Instagram is exploring a new feature that would grant users the ability to remove themselves from the Close Friends lists of other accounts. This potential update aims to enhance user control over privacy and personal connections within the app.

Privacy Control Enhancement in Early Development

According to a TechCrunch report citing information from Meta, the company behind Instagram, this capability is currently in the early stages of development and has yet to reach public testing. The option would address a longstanding limitation where users had no recourse if added to someone else’s Close Friends list without their consent or preference.

By enabling individuals to opt themselves out of these selective sharing groups, Instagram could further empower users to manage who can view exclusive or more personal Stories content. The Close Friends feature allows users to share Stories with a curated subset of their followers, making it a significant tool for managing privacy on the platform.

While Meta has confirmed the existence of this project, detailed information such as implementation timelines or interface design remains unavailable. The development signals Meta’s ongoing efforts to refine privacy features across its social platforms.

This forthcoming change aligns with a broader trend across social media services to provide users with stronger privacy controls and choice over their digital interactions. As these tools evolve, user autonomy over shared content and social circles is becoming an increasingly important focus for app developers.

Further updates on this new Instagram feature are expected as the company progresses through development and moves toward testing phases. Users and privacy advocates alike will likely watch closely to see how effective and user-friendly this control mechanism will be once it launches.

Instagram has not specified when or if the feature will be widely available, leaving its introduction uncertain at this stage.

Instagram is working on a tool that would enable users to remove themselves from others’ Close Friends lists, currently in early development.