Instagram is working on a new feature that would give users more control over their social boundaries: the ability to remove themselves from someone else’s Close Friends list.
The feature is still in its early stages and isn’t being publicly tested yet. But if released, it would address a long-standing limitation of Close Friends. Since the feature launched in 2018, users have been able to share Stories, Reels, and posts with a select audience, while those added had no way to opt out.
The internal build was first spotted by reverse engineer Alessandro Paluzzi, who regularly uncovers unreleased features. According to a screenshot he shared, Instagram would warn users that leaving a Close Friends list means they’ll no longer see that person’s private content, unless they’re added back again.
In other words: a quiet exit, but a definitive one.
While some users may feel slighted if someone leaves their Close Friends list, the feature would likely be welcomed by those who feel uncomfortable being included in certain semi-private circles, coworkers, loose acquaintances, or people they’d simply rather not follow that closely.
It also brings Instagram closer to feature parity with competitors. Snapchat, for example, already allows users to remove themselves from someone’s private story.
This may seem like a small toggle, but it reflects a broader shift. Instagram continues to refine how privacy, consent, and social control work on the platform, not just at the algorithm or audience level, but within everyday interpersonal dynamics.
As with any internal prototype, there’s no guarantee the feature will roll out publicly. But if it does, it could become one of Instagram’s quietly most useful social safety valves.