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Instagram Announces 'Blend' Shared Reel Feeds

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Instagram today announced the launch of Blend, a new feature that's designed to allow users to connect to their friends in new ways over DMs. Blend is essentially a shared feed of Reels that combines recommendations that users and their friends might like.

Instagram-Feature-1.jpg

To start a Blend with a friend or a group of friends, users can go to a DM and then tap on the Blend icon. From there, everyone in the DM group is able to participate.

The Blend will include Reels that users in the group are interested in, based on what they've browsed individually and what's been shared in the DM thread. Instagram chief Adam Mosseri said that it's a way for users to share their interests with their friends, and to start new conversations.

Blend feeds will refresh with new content each day as a way to keep participants coming back to the conversation. Every chat can have a unique Blend with different participants.

Instagram has been testing Blend with a small group of Instagram users since March, but it is now rolling out more widely.

Article Link: Instagram Announces 'Blend' Shared Reel Feeds
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2025/04/17/instagram-blend-shared-reels/
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First thought is that it feels like a play for the Discord/Community oriented channels and Reddit subs. Be interesting to see how it evolves.

Is it sad that my next thought was how depressing that this will probably be another platform that gets overwhelmingly used by groups of pervs and weirdos?
 
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So more content from people you do not follow? I wish I could opt out of all stuff I do not want to see.

The Instagram algorithm is so dumb. Even if I block accounts, it does not recognize that as a negative weight. Instead it shows me more stuff from similar accounts, because for blocking I need to visit the profile and that has a positive weight.
 
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joshwithachance said:
Instagram needs to just STOP. Go back to basics and start fresh, because what the ****?!
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Seriously though. I just hopped back on after years of being away. First thing I did was unfollow every celebrity, brand, "influencer" page that wasn't a friend or family member. The new feed is stupid. It only shows you the most recent posts from those people and then defaults to suggested posts, even after snoozing them for 30 days. The main feed is pure garbage now. Only way to filter that out is to tap the IG logo and go to Following or Favorites. So stupid.
 
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Skyscraperfan said:
So more content from people you do not follow? I wish I could opt out of all stuff I do not want to see.

The Instagram algorithm is so dumb. Even if I block accounts, it does not recognize that as a negative weight. Instead it shows me more stuff from similar accounts, because for blocking I need to visit the profile and that has a positive weight.
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Same thing with snoozing suggestions. Still shows me suggested posts after the end of posts from people that I actually follow. So dumb. I really wish people would just stop using those platforms to show them who really has the power. They are just poisonous ad platforms at this point manipulating people.
 
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joshwithachance said:
Instagram needs to just STOP. Go back to basics and start fresh, because what the ****?!
Click to expand...

Skyscraperfan said:
So more content from people you do not follow? I wish I could opt out of all stuff I do not want to see.

The Instagram algorithm is so dumb. Even if I block accounts, it does not recognize that as a negative weight. Instead it shows me more stuff from similar accounts, because for blocking I need to visit the profile and that has a positive weight.
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It’s literally opt-in. You have to go into the chat with someone, click Blend, and they then (or you) have to accept the invitation. If both parties do not accept, then it’s not enabled...

The article does not state that very well, but the linked Reel says it in the description:
We’re introducing Blend as a new way to connect with your friends in DMs. Blend is a shared feed of Reels that combines recommendations you and your friends may like. To start a blend with a friend or group of friends, go to a DM and click the Blend icon. Everyone in the DM group has to opt-in to participate. Excited about this one.
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ozreth said:
Using apps like IG as an adult beyond your 30s is crazy to me. How can anybody still fall for giving their time and attention to such things, especially as worthless and predatory as they've become today.
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You’re literally on a forum and throwing shade about ppl using social media.

The call is coming from inside the house.

Lmao it cracks me up people literally judge ppl for doing something they deem beneath them that literally has nothing to do with them.

I use instagram regularly bc I make money off it.

Talking about predatory I hope you don’t use any google services at all.

Glass houses and all
 
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Not interested in this new feature. The simple version of Instagram is more than enough. But good to know about the changes to the app.
 
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Just another avenue to serve up ads.

Seriously, the first thing I see in the feed, sometimes but not all times, is a sponsored ad. It's annoying that its making me want to delete the app.
 
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scorpio vega said:
You’re literally on a forum and throwing shade about ppl using social media.

The call is coming from inside the house.

Lmao it cracks me up people literally judge ppl for doing something they deem beneath them that literally has nothing to do with them.

I use instagram regularly bc I make money off it.

Talking about predatory I hope you don’t use any google services at all.

Glass houses and all
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My activity on this forum is not based on an algorithm. It is not presented in a format meant to cater to increasingly short attention spans. I choose how I navigate it. I can write long form and read other people long form writing. It isn’t constantly revamping itself to find new ways to destroy my attention and my self esteem. The forum format existed before the social media format, and is about the purest form of discussion you can get on the internet, and even then I do have my critiques of it.

Instagram is not comparable in almost any way, beyond the like feature, but here the likes don’t feed your post into an algorithm that decides who will see them and who won’t.

Instagram is one of the most garbage ways the internet presents itself.
 
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Have been using it for while with a friend but it became unavailable a few days ago. Which is annoying since he’s the only person I use it regularly with.
 
I deleted my Instagram account almost 4 years ago, and I am rarely on Facebook anymore, I also deleted my X account around the same time I deleted Instagram. I don’t miss any of it.
 
Trusteft said:
Social media and Microsoft actually, operate like rapists. They just don't understand what "no" means and keep pushing to make you do things you had no intention on doing and still don't want to do.
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I’m curious how Microsoft operates like rapists. I don’t get any ads or any suggestion suggestions when I go into work or Excel. The program just does what I want it to do.
 
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