Instagram is working on a small but surprisingly meaningful new privacy feature: the ability to remove yourself from someone else’s Close Friends list.
Meta confirmed to TechCrunch on Friday that the feature is currently in early development and not being tested publicly yet. Still, it could solve an awkward problem many Instagram users have quietly dealt with for years.
What Close Friends is used for
Instagram’s Close Friends feature, introduced back in 2018, allows people to share Stories, Reels, and posts with a limited audience instead of all their followers.
It’s basically Instagram’s version of “this isn’t for everyone.”
The catch is that once someone adds you to their Close Friends list, you have no way to opt out. Until now, the only option has been… well, to just sit there and watch.
The new option: removing yourself
This upcoming feature would finally let users leave someone’s Close Friends circle on their own.
The prototype was first spotted by reverse engineer Alessandro Paluzzi, who often uncovers Instagram features before they launch.
According to a screenshot he shared, Instagram will warn users that leaving a Close Friends list means:
- You will no longer see that person’s Close Friends Stories or posts
- You won’t regain access unless they add you back
So it’s a clean break, not a temporary mute.
Why this could be a big deal
Close Friends lists can get a little weird.
Sometimes you’re added by:
- an old coworker
- someone you barely talk to
- a person you don’t feel close to anymore
- someone who overshares a bit too much
And while being included might sound flattering, it can also feel uncomfortable. Having the option to quietly step away would give users more control without forcing a confrontation.
Of course, some people may take it personally, but the feature seems designed for subtle privacy, not drama.
Snapchat already does this
Interestingly, Snapchat already allows users to remove themselves from someone’s private story, which is essentially the same concept.
So Instagram may just be catching up here.
Will it actually launch?
For now, this is still an internal prototype. Meta hasn’t announced a release timeline, and like many early Instagram experiments, it’s possible the feature never makes it to the public app.
But if it does, it could be one of the most quietly useful social features Instagram has added in a while.
