Instagram’s New Friends Tab Sparks User Outrage Without Options

Instagram has introduced a controversial new feature, the Friends tab, which is now visible on user profiles. This change has generated significant backlash among users, who are frustrated by the lack of options to disable or hide this feature.

The Friends tab, which began appearing earlier this week, replaces the Posts counter and is positioned alongside the Followers and Following counts. It exclusively displays mutual followers—those who follow you back—without providing any choice for users to hide this information.

Users Express Frustration Over New Feature

Many users have taken to platforms such as Reddit and X to voice their dissatisfaction. Comments range from concerns about privacy to feelings of embarrassment, as family members can now easily see mutual connections. Some users express discomfort with the visibility of their follower dynamics, feeling that it underscores the discrepancy between their total followers and those who reciprocate the follow.

This new feature is distinct from the Friends tab associated with Instagram Reels, which users can disable through privacy settings. The Reels Friends tab shows what content friends have liked or commented on, and this visibility can be turned off by adjusting settings in the app. In contrast, the Friends list on user profiles offers no such option, leaving users feeling trapped by the change.

Instagram’s Permanent Change and User Options

As of now, there are no indications that Meta, Instagram’s parent company, plans to make the Friends tab optional. The feature appears to be a permanent addition rather than a temporary test. While some users report the tab disappearing and reappearing, likely due to phased rollouts and technical bugs, the overall sentiment is that this feature is here to stay.

Users currently face limited options: they can either wait for Instagram to respond to the backlash and possibly introduce a disable toggle or accept that their mutual follower count will now be a visible part of their profiles. Unfortunately, neither option provides an appealing solution for those unhappy with the change.

While the Friends list on profiles may not be removable, users can still manage their activity visibility in the Reels Friends tab. This small concession allows some control, but it does little to alleviate the frustration surrounding the new Friends feature on profiles.

As Instagram continues to evolve, the user community remains hopeful for adjustments that will address their concerns regarding privacy and visibility. For now, the Friends tab stands as a prominent element of the Instagram experience.