Meta-owned social media platform Instagram is testing a new feature known as “Flipside,” aimed at giving users more private space on the platform. Reportedly, Flipside is aimed to give users the option to create a more exclusive space within their profile for sharing content with a selected group of friends or family. The feature has been spotted by some users but its official launch, or if it will be even launched, is not yet confirmed.
The Flipside feature is a response to the growing trend of Instagram users maintaining separate accounts, known as “finstas” (fake Instas), for sharing personal content with a smaller, more private audience. This new functionality allows users to enjoy the benefits of a finsta without the need to manage an additional account.
With Flipside, Instagram aims to give users greater control over their privacy and the audience for their posts. It lets them create a secondary photo grid within their main profile, accessible only to friends they designate. These private posts will be distinctly separate from the public content on their main grid, ensuring a clear delineation between public and private sharing.
“We’re not even sure we’ll launch it on Instagram. On one hand it feels good to create a clear space that feels more private. On the other, it’s yet another way to reach a smaller audience on top of secondary accounts and Close Friends. We’ll see how people respond in the test, and iterate forward,” Instagram head Adam Mosseri wrote on another Meta-owned social media platform Threads.
Interestingly, Instagram already has a feature that allows users to share stories and posts with a close friends group. However, Flipside offers a more integrated approach, letting users maintain a private section within their main profile, complete with its own profile picture, name, and bio. This feature not only enhances privacy but also provides a convenient way to share more personal, perhaps less polished content with a close circle.
