Instagram developing ‘Blend’ feature for watching Reels together with friends | Tech News

Instagram is cooking up a new way for users to discover short-form videos together. The Meta-owned platform is prototyping a feature called “Blend” that would generate a private feed of recommended Reels based on you and a friend’s interests.

The unreleased feature, spotted by developer Alessandro Paluzzi, seems aimed at boosting Reels’ viewership through collaborative sharing. If launched, Blend would allow you to invite a friend, and Instagram’s algorithm would then populate a feed with Reels it thinks you’d both enjoy based on your viewing habits and the clips you’ve previously shared with each other.

Think of it like Spotify’s Blend playlist which combines you and a friend’s music tastes into one combined soundtrack. But instead of songs, Instagram’s version would merge your Reels interests into a unified vertical video feed just for the two of you.

Screenshots indicate these Blends would be private between you and your friend, with the ability to leave the shared Reel recommendation feed at any time. It’s unclear if Blends would continuously update with new video suggestions or refresh on a set schedule.

The social media giant hasn’t shared many specifics on Blend, and like most prototypes, there’s no guarantee it will actually launch to the public.

This innovative feature could revolutionize the way users interact with Reels, making it a more engaging and interactive experience for friends to enjoy together. Stay tuned for more updates on Instagram’s Blend feature.