The ability to access previously published content that a user has chosen to hide from their main profile feed is a function offered by Instagram. This feature allows users to remove posts from public view without permanently deleting them. For instance, a user might archive older content to curate a more consistent aesthetic on their public profile, while still retaining access to those memories for personal viewing.
The archiving feature provides benefits related to profile management and privacy. It allows users to refine their public image, presenting a more current and focused representation of themselves or their brand. Furthermore, it offers a degree of control over which content is visible to others, essentially providing a private space within a public platform to store and revisit past posts. Historically, content management on social media platforms was often limited to deletion only, making archiving a valuable evolution in user control.