Instagram is adding another way to diversify your recommendations in Reels. The app now has a new feature called Blend, which allows you to create a custom DM feed that combines your recommendations with those of your friends.
If this sounds familiar, it’s because Blend has been in development for some time. It was first spotted in the app over a year ago, but it was only an internal prototype at the time. Now Meta is finally making it official, describing it as “an invitation-only video feed for you and your friends.”
Anyone can invite a friend or group of friends to join Blend via direct message or group chat on Instagram. After someone accepts the invitation, Instagram generates a special Reels feed consisting of video recommendations tailored to each person. As you scroll through the feed, you can see who each suggested clip is for, giving you an idea of what types of videos Instagram’s algorithm is suggesting to your friends.
This feature is the latest way that Meta is allowing Instagram users to gain more insight into how their friends are watching videos. The company also recently introduced a special tab that shows videos that your Instagram friends have liked. Whether that sounds like an intriguing way to find new niches for content or a potentially very inconvenient one is another question. (It’s also another reminder that your Instagram likes have never been private.) But if your Reels recommendations seem a little outdated, or you’re just curious about how your friends are using the app, it can be a fun way to diversify your recommendations.
