Instagram’s close friends list is a great way to share content with a select list of people who follow you. Whether I want to share memes on my story or upload a post celebrating an event with my besties, Instagram offers numerous options to personalize my experience.

What Is the Close Friends List?

Instagram’s Close Friends list allows you to select a group of people you can share content with for only that group to see. You can share stories and feed posts, and soon you can go live exclusively for your Close Friends list.

How to Create a Close Friends List

When you open Instagram, go to your profile and tap thethree horizontal barsin the upper right corner. From there, select theClose Friendsoption from the menu. Now, you can search for who you want to add to the list. Tap on the account and selectDoneto add the account to your Close Friends list.

Once you’ve done this, only the people on your Close Friends list can see the content you share exclusively with them.

Share Stories With Close Friends Only

To share a story to only your Close Friends List on Instagram, add a photo to your story by tapping theplus signat the bottom of the screen. In the bottom right corner, a green circle will sayClose Friends. Tap it to upload your story.

Now you’ve shared a story with only your close friends! If you want to share a post to your story that you’ve seen on Instagram with your close friends only, you can tap the arrow and again select the Close Friends circle.

Lastly, if you want to make better use of Instagram stories, here’s a list ofeverything you may add to your Instagram story.

Go Live to Close Friends Only

The feature isn’t yet globally available, but a trick lets you go live for only a select group of people. Before going live, in the setup screen, tap theplusicon in the middle of the bottom row of options, selectAudienceon top, and then, selectPractice.Now, pressRecordand tap the people icon at the bottom. From there, you may search and invite people to join your livestream.

Remember that anyone who can see your friends' lives will also be able to see yours.

Share Posts With Close Friends Only

To share feed posts to only your close friends, select theplusin the middle of the bottom row of options, tap the photo you’d like to add, and right before posting, selectAudienceand chooseClose Friends Only.

I love Instagram’s Close Friends list because over the years I’ve had my account, I still follow people I don’t keep up with or have never even spoken with. The Close Friends list allows me to still use Instagram as a general social media platform, but I can also choose to share posts and stories with those closest to me.