Instagram is reportedly developing a new privacy-focused feature that would allow users to remove themselves from someone else’s Close Friends list, giving people more control over what content they see and who includes them in restricted audiences. The feature is still in early development and is not yet available for public testing, but it signals Meta’s continued focus on user safety, transparency, and account control.
The Close Friends feature, introduced in 2018, lets Instagram users share Stories and Reels with a select group instead of their entire follower list. Until now, users had no direct way to opt out if someone added them to a Close Friends list. If rolled out, the new option would allow users to quietly remove themselves, meaning they would no longer see exclusive Stories shared with that group—without notifying the creator.
The upcoming feature was spotted by well-known reverse engineer Alessandro Paluzzi, who regularly uncovers Instagram features before official announcements. Alongside this discovery, Paluzzi also identified signs of Instagram experimenting with subscription-based premium tools, indicating a broader shift toward paid features that enhance user control and insights.
According to these findings, Instagram may introduce premium options such as unlimited audience lists, the ability to see which followers don’t follow back, and tools to view Stories without notifying the creator. Similar functionality already exists on Snapchat, one of Instagram’s key competitors, which allows users to leave private Story groups without alerting others.
Meta has confirmed that it is testing new subscription plans across Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp, aimed at users who want advanced controls and exclusive features. While exact pricing and timelines have not been disclosed, Meta has emphasized that core Instagram features will remain free, with paid plans offering additional flexibility, privacy, and account management tools.
If introduced, the ability to remove yourself from Close Friends lists could be a meaningful step toward better privacy management, safer social interactions, and improved user autonomy on Instagram. Combined with upcoming premium features, the update reflects Instagram’s evolving strategy to balance free social sharing with optional, advanced tools for power users and creators.
