The inability to observe the Reels that a user’s contacts have liked on Instagram stems from alterations in the platform’s functionality. Historically, Instagram provided a “Following” activity tab that displayed the actions of followed accounts, including their liked posts and Reels. This feature allowed users to discover content based on the endorsements of their friends. However, Instagram has since removed this feature, changing the way users discover content and interact with the platform.
The removal of the “Following” activity tab impacts user behavior by altering content discovery methods. Previously, this tab facilitated serendipitous discovery, exposing users to content that might not otherwise appear in their algorithmically curated feeds. The absence of this feature shifts the focus to Instagram’s recommendation engine, which personalizes content based on individual user activity and preferences. This change can result in a less diverse range of content exposure, potentially limiting the discovery of niche or less popular Reels.