Instagram has added a new feature that will now allow users to share public Stories to their own profiles, regardless of whether they were tagged in the original post. This comes after it added re-sharing of posts to Stories back in 2018, after the Stories feature was introduced back in 2016.
Previously, the “Add to your story” functionality was strictly limited. A user could only repost a Story if the original creator explicitly mentioned (tagged) them using the @ handle. Without a tag, sharing content required workarounds such as taking a screenshot or screen recording, which often resulted in lower image quality and a lack of direct attribution to the creator.
This latest update removes that friction, bringing Instagram’s sharing mechanics closer to the “Retweet” or “Share” functions found on X (formerly Twitter) and TikTok.
How the Feature Works
The update is designed to facilitate the broader circulation of content across the platform. The mechanics operate as follows:
- Public Visibility: The feature applies primarily to public accounts. Stories posted by private accounts retain their existing restrictions and cannot be reshared by others.
- The Share Button: When viewing a public Story, users will see ‘Add to Story’ option to share that content directly to their own Story, alongside the existing options to share via Direct Message (DM) or to other external apps.
- Attribution: Similar to the traditional reposting method, the shared Story will display the username of the original poster, linking back to their profile.
Privacy Controls and Opt-Outs
Recognizing that not all users may wish for their content to be shareable by the general public, Instagram has integrated privacy controls alongside this rollout.
Users with public profiles have the ability to manage this setting. In the app’s privacy menu, creators can toggle the “Allow Sharing to Story” option. If disabled, viewers will see the content but will not have the option to repost it to their own feed. This ensures that creators maintain control over the distribution of their ephemeral content.
The update is currently rolling out to users globally on both iOS and Android devices.