Instagram Reels Blend makes short videos more social than ever

Instagram Reels are already everywhere—and now they’re about to get a lot more social.

Instagram just dropped a new feature called Blend, and it’s something you won’t find on TikTok. Instead of just sending Reels back and forth in DMs, Instagram Reels Blend lets you and a friend share a custom feed of Reels to explore together. It’s updated daily, and yes, it’s made for people who love reacting and chatting over the latest videos.

Here’s how Instagram Reels Blend works: once you start a Blend with someone, you’ll both get a personalized Reels feed based on content you each like. If your friend reacts to a Reel, you’ll get a notification—perfect for starting conversations around new trends or creators. It’s basically like Netflix’s “For You Both” but for short-form videos.

How to start a Blend

To try it out, make sure your Instagram app is updated. Go to your phone’s app store and check for the latest version.

Once you’ve updated:

• Open a one-on-one DM with a friend

• Look at the top of the chat window

• Tap the Blend icon (next to the phone icon)

If you don’t see it yet, don’t worry—it’s rolling out gradually. But once it hits your app, you’ll be able to dive into Reels together instead of just sending them one by one.