Instagram Shared Interests Feature: Find Common Ground

Instagram's "Picks" Feature: Fostering Connections Through Shared Interests

Instagram is currently developing a new functionality, internally referred to as “Picks,” designed to facilitate the discovery of shared interests among its user base.

Meta, the parent company of Instagram, has confirmed to TechCrunch that Picks remains an internal prototype and is not currently undergoing external testing.

Discovery of the Feature

The existence of this feature was initially identified by Alessandro Paluzzi, a reverse engineer known for uncovering unreleased features during their development phase.

How "Picks" is Intended to Work

Based on screenshots provided by Paluzzi, users will be able to designate their preferred movies, books, television programs, video games, and musical selections – essentially, their “Picks.”

The system will then identify commonalities between a user’s selections and those of their friends, highlighting areas of shared taste.

Strategic Alignment with Instagram's Goals

Although Instagram has not yet released specific details regarding Picks, it is anticipated that the feature will serve to strengthen personal connections between users and encourage dialogue centered around mutual interests.

Earlier this year, Instagram’s head, Adam Mosseri, articulated the platform’s intention to prioritize creativity and connection throughout 2025.

Mosseri stated in a January Instagram post that efforts would be focused on enhancing messaging capabilities, increasing the interactivity of content consumption, and exploring novel methods for connecting with friends.

Potential User Reception

It is possible that the introduction of Picks may not be universally embraced, given the already extensive range of features available within the application.

Recent criticism has been directed towards Instagram following the launch of Instagram Map, with numerous users expressing their disinterest in the new functionality.

Future Availability

The timeline for a potential official release of Picks remains uncertain, as is the possibility of its eventual deployment, given its current status as a feature still under development.

As with all features in development, there is no guarantee that Instagram will ultimately choose to publicly launch Picks.