How to Use Instagram's Close Friends Feature for Posts

Instagram's 'Close Friends' feature is a fantastic tool if you wish to share content with a select group of individuals. It offers a level of privacy without having to limit the visibility of your entire profile. To understand how to make the most of this feature, you might want to check out our Instagram Posting Guidelines and Best Practices.

To use this feature, you'll first need to create your 'Close Friends' list by going to your profile and selecting the hamburger menu > Close Friends > Add. Once you've curated your list, you can choose the 'Close Friends' option when posting a Story. Unfortunately, this feature is currently only available for Stories and not for regular posts.

Pairing this feature with a well-curated Instagram Content Creation strategy can help you maintain an engaging public profile while still allowing for selective visibility when needed.

How to Post on Instagram Story Without Anyone Seeing

Now, what if you want to post on your Instagram Story without anyone seeing? This might seem like a paradox, but it can be quite handy if you want to save a Story without sending it to anyone, or for use with Instagram's 'Add Post to Your Story' feature. For more context on creating effective Stories, have a look at our Master Instagram Stories Guide.



Here's how to do it: First, create your Story as you normally would. Then, when it comes to sharing, click on the 'Close Friends' option but without having added any close friends. This way, the Story will appear only to you. However, note that if you add close friends later, they'll be able to see the Story if it's still live.

Archiving and Hiding: Alternative Ways to Post on Instagram Without Anyone Seeing

Sometimes you might want to post without the public or even your followers seeing. You can do this using Instagram's archive and hide features. You might find these techniques handy when planning posts or experimenting with different Instagram Content Creation strategies.

To archive a post, click on the three dots ('...') above it and select 'Archive'. This removes the post from your profile but keeps it available for you to view privately. You can also 'Hide' your post from specific people by blocking them. Keep in mind, though, that this might impact your relationship with those followers. For more information on managing your Instagram visibility, check out our blog on Common Instagram Mistakes and How to Avoid Them.

Conclusion

Instagram offers a wealth of tools to control who sees your content, allowing you to tailor your posting to your comfort level. Whether it's the 'Close Friends' feature, the ability to archive posts, or the option to make your Story visible only to you, these features give you more control over your Instagram presence. Combining these methods with a solid Instagram Growth Strategy can empower you to share content on your terms. After all, your Instagram journey should be a fun and engaging experience. Happy posting!