Instagram recently launched the “Close Friends” feature for Instagram Stories. You basically add people in the list and they’ll be the only ones who’ll see your Story if you click the green star icon before posting. Remember when people said that Snapchat was better because it’s more personal and you chose the people that’ll see your content? It’s the same concept, except you don’t need to switch apps.
The pros of having this feature is that you sort of get more freedom to post the things you don’t want your family and/or co-workers to see. Only you and your trusted besties will see your silly posts and personal rants. As 9to5mac put it, it’s going to replace “finstagram.”
However, there’s a downside to having this type of exclusivity among friends. At first, I never really thought of anything bad about “Close Friends.” But when a friend brought up how anxiety-inducing it must be to see that you don’t receive the same updates from your buddy group, it got me thinking a lot.
We know that following the JOMO mindset is the way to go these days. But you have to admit that being deliberately left out and witnessing it via that green Instagram Story circle sucks. What if there was an important event—like a birthday party, your good friend’s despedida, or even just a regular hangout with all your close pals—and you didn’t know about it because no one invited you? You probably didn’t see updates from it because you’re left out of the “Close Friends” loop just like everyone from your friends’ outer circles.
Call it “being paranoid,” but it’s a valid and daunting fear. I guess it is true that as much as social media can bring people together, it can also burn bridges too, regardless if it’s directly or indirectly.
Then again, the “Close Friends” feature also brings to light how we really value people. Sure, you may know someone since forever but, as we said before, they won’t be your “constant person” forever. So if you see that you’re not part of a certain person’s list, let that be a sign for you.
Besides, we bet you didn’t add some friends of yours in your list as well because you don’t classify them as your ride-or-die. Yeah? Thought so.
Art by Marian Hukom
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