Stop Instagram from sharing your likes in the Friends tab today. Instagram added this feature recently inside the Reels section. It shows liked and commented Reels to friends.
Friends means people you follow back on Instagram. Many users dislike this option because it reduces privacy. You can turn off this setting easily in just a few simple steps.
Steps to Stop Instagram from Sharing Your Likes in the Friends Tab
Stop Instagram from sharing your likes in the Friends tab using simple settings. This Friends tab is placed at the top of the Reels page. It shows Reels that your friends liked or commented on.
In return, it also displays your liked and commented Reels to them automatically without needing permission.
If you want privacy, change this setting now. First, open Instagram and check the app is updated. Go to your profile by tapping the icon in the bottom right. Tap the three-line menu icon in the top right corner. From the menu, select Settings and activity to open privacy controls.
Scroll down until you find Activity in the Friends tab. Tap it to open visibility options for your likes and comments. Under the section Who can see your likes and comments on Reels in the Friends tab, choose between available options.
Select No one if you want to hide your activity completely from all friends in the Friends tab.
After this, your likes and comments will no longer appear in the Friends tab for others. However, you can still view your friends’ activities if you want. Simply tap the Friends tab at the top of the Reels section to see the Reels they liked or commented on. Your privacy change will not affect this viewing option.
Reasons to Stop Instagram from Sharing Your Likes in the Friends Tab
Stop Instagram from sharing your likes in the Friends tab if you value privacy. This setting gives you more control over your online activity. Instagram sometimes enables new social features automatically. Without making changes, your interactions may already be visible to people you follow back.
Protecting privacy online is important for many reasons. You may like a video just for personal entertainment. However, others may misinterpret your activity when it appears publicly. Keeping likes private prevents unnecessary misunderstandings and awkward conversations with friends. It also avoids drawing unwanted attention to your activity.
This privacy control also reduces social noise. When your likes are hidden, your Instagram feed feels calmer. You can enjoy Reels without worrying about public reactions to your choices. Friends will not receive algorithm suggestions based on your activity in the Friends tab.
Another reason is avoiding embarrassment. Imagine liking a humorous or unusual video. If your friends see it in the Friends tab, they might tease you or question your choices. Turning off this feature avoids such situations completely.
Lastly, keeping your likes private keeps your digital life personal. Not every interaction needs to be shared. Social media should allow enjoyment without constant public display of preferences.
Extra Privacy Tips
Stop Instagram from sharing your likes in the Friends tab, but also review other privacy settings regularly. Instagram offers multiple tools to manage what people see. Using them together ensures maximum control over your account activity.
Set your Instagram account to private so only approved followers can view your posts and stories. This limits your audience and protects personal moments from strangers.
Check Story controls and hide stories from specific followers if needed. This is useful when sharing something personal with selected friends only.
Control who can comment on your posts and Reels. Restricting comments reduces unwanted interactions and spam messages. You can allow only followers or selected people to comment. This helps maintain a friendly and safe space.
Check Tagged posts settings to approve tags before they appear on your profile. This prevents unwanted photos or videos from being linked to your account. Many users forget this option and face privacy problems later.
Be careful when using features like Blends on Instagram. Blends recommend Reels you enjoy to selected friends. They can reveal your interests in unexpected ways. Avoid joining or disable this if privacy matters to you.
Update your Instagram app regularly to get new privacy tools. Instagram often adds features silently without user notification. Updating ensures you can disable them early before they share unwanted information.
Another tip is reviewing your Activity status setting. Turning it off hides your online presence from others. People will not know when you are active on Instagram. This helps you browse Reels and posts without pressure to reply immediately.
Lastly, review connected apps and websites linked to your Instagram. Remove any that you do not use. Old connections may still access parts of your activity. Keeping this clean strengthens your overall account privacy.
The Bottom Corner
Stop Instagram from sharing your likes in the Friends tab to protect your privacy. This feature may reveal your activity to friends without consent. Changing settings hides your liked and commented Reels from others.
You can still see their activity without sharing your own. Use extra privacy tips to keep your Instagram safe, calm, and completely under your control.
