Instagram is working on a new feature that would allow users to remove themselves from another person’s “Close Friends” list, according to information Meta shared with TechaAmerica.ai on Friday. The company said the feature is still in early development and is not yet being tested publicly.
Instagram’s Close Friends feature lets users share Stories, Reels, and posts with a limited audience rather than all their followers. Since the feature was introduced in 2018, users have not been able to remove themselves from someone else’s Close Friends list once they are added.
The internal version of the feature was first discovered by reverse engineer Alessandro Paluzzi, who is known for uncovering unreleased social media features while they are still in development.
#Instagram is working on a feature that lets users remove themselves from another user's Close Friends list 👀 pic.twitter.com/ftgDSfxE7p
— Alessandro Paluzzi (@alex193a) January 29, 2026
Based on a screenshot shared by Paluzzi, Instagram would notify users that if they choose to leave someone’s Close Friends list, they will no longer be able to view that person’s Close Friends content unless they are added back again.
While some users might feel slighted if someone removes themselves from their Close Friends list, the feature could be a welcome option for people who prefer not to be included in certain private audience groups.
It’s also worth noting that Snapchat, one of Instagram’s main competitors, already offers a similar capability by allowing users to remove themselves from another person’s private story.
As with many internal prototypes, there is no guarantee that Instagram will ultimately release this feature to the public, and the company has not shared a timeline for a potential rollout.
Beyond updates to Close Friends, Instagram is also exploring additional features. Earlier this week, Meta told TechaAmerica.ai that it plans to begin testing new subscription offerings that would provide users with access to exclusive features across Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp.
Meta has not disclosed which exact features will be included in these subscriptions. However, Paluzzi shared that a premium Instagram subscription could allow users to create unlimited audience lists, see which followers do not follow them back, and view Stories anonymously without alerting the original poster.
According to Meta, the goal of these upcoming subscriptions is to offer users more control over how they share content and connect with others, while keeping the core experience of its apps free. The company also indicated that it is still experimenting with different approaches and plans to test multiple subscription features and bundles, with each app offering its own set of exclusive tools.
