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But here’s the challenge, new features are rolled out constantly. Unless you’re paying close attention, it’s easy to miss tools that could actually improve your content, boost engagement, or make your workflow more efficient.
That’s where we come in. At Together, we’ve done the digging for you and shortlisted the top six new Instagram features in 2025 that are genuinely worth exploring, not just for the hype, but for the real impact they can have on your strategy.
After a successful beta run, Instagram’s Broadcast Channels are now available to everyone and they’re quickly becoming one of the most useful tools for creators and brands who want to deepen their connection with followers.
Broadcast Channels allow you to send one-way messages to your audience. Think of it as a private update space, where you can share voice notes, exclusive content, sneak peeks, product updates, or behind-the-scenes moments without the distraction of comments or DMs.
This is perfect for brands that want to speak directly to their most loyal followers. Unlike posts or stories that rely on algorithm visibility, Broadcast Channels send notifications to everyone who joins, making sure your message actually gets seen.
💡 Try this: Use Broadcast Channels to drop first-look content, run real-time polls for product decisions, or share exclusive discount codes only for your inner circle.
Instagram’s “Add Yours” sticker became a story staple, but now, it’s stepping up with Add Yours Templates for Reels. This feature lets users recreate your video concept with their own twist, building a response chain around your original format.
Why does it matter? Because engagement isn’t just about likes anymore, it’s about participation. This feature encourages your followers to engage, helping you reach new audiences while building community.
Whether you’re starting a trend, showcasing a challenge, or simply asking your audience to share their version of something, Add Yours makes your Reels more interactive and shareable by design.
💡 Try this: Create a simple but visually striking Reel template, something like “My daily reset routine” or “My version of the product glow-up”and invite your audience to jump in.
We’ve all been there, you’ve got the perfect visual, but you’re stuck on the caption. That’s exactly what Instagram’s new AI caption tool aims to solve. Powered by machine learning, this feature analyses your photo, video, and previous post history to recommend captions that are relevant and on-brand.
It saves time, boosts consistency, and helps avoid creative blocks, especially helpful for teams managing multiple posts per week.
The more you use it, the better it gets at understanding your tone and preferences. While it’s not about letting AI take over your voice completely, it’s a smart starting point that can get you past the blank screen faster.
💡 Try this: Use the AI-generated caption as your first draft, then refine it with your personality, emojis, or CTAs. Great for speeding up approvals and planning ahead.
Social commerce continues to grow, and Instagram is leaning in with a smarter, smoother shopping experience. The latest update brings Live Checkout into the spotlight, allowing your audience to buy products directly while watching a Live video.
No more links in bio. No more switching tabs. Users can watch, click, and purchase without ever leaving the stream. This turns your Live session into a full shopping event, perfect for limited drops, seasonal collections, or interactive Q&A sales.
You can highlight multiple products, pin them on screen, and guide users through the buying journey in real time, making it easier for customers and more profitable for you.
💡 Try this: Host a Live launch party or behind-the-scenes walkthrough of your collection. Offer time-limited discounts during the stream to create urgency and boost conversions.
Instagram isn’t just using AI behind the scenes, it’s putting it right into your hands. In 2025, the platform’s AI toolbox has expanded to include image generation, chatbot assistants, and even personalised AI characters.
You can now create visuals using text prompts, perfect for moodboards, Story backgrounds, or experimental content. The Meta AI assistant also helps with content planning, editing suggestions, and quick answers to creative questions.
But what’s really new is the ability to design custom AI characters, chatbots that can live in your DMs, help customers find products, or even entertain your audience with personality-driven conversations.
This adds a whole new layer of automation and storytelling. Whether you're using AI privately to speed up your content workflow, or publicly to engage followers at scale, it’s clear that smart brands will learn how to collaborate with these tools, to compete against them.
💡 Try this: Build a branded AI character that reflects your tone and values. Use it to answer FAQs, guide users to the right product, or run a mini game that drives DMs and saves.
Not every Reel is a hit but what if you could test them first? That’s exactly what Instagram’s Trial Reels feature lets you do. You can share a new reel with non-followers only for 24 hours, giving you real-world data on how it performs without showing it to your full audience.
During the trial period, you’ll see views, likes, comments, and watch time. Based on how it performs, you can either choose to share it with your followers or let it disappear quietly. You can also set conditions to automatically publish it if it meets certain engagement thresholds.
It’s a safe space to experiment with different ideas, hooks, and formats. Whether you’re testing a new aesthetic, trying out humor, or launching a series, Trial Reels lets you see what sticks before committing.
💡 Try this: Use Trial Reels to A/B test different opening lines or formats. Compare what drives better engagement and then scale the winning version across your full audience.
Instagram’s latest features aren’t just for show, they’re designed to help you work smarter, test better, and connect deeper. Whether you’re experimenting with AI-generated content, building a broadcast channel, or testing Reels before going live, the tools are all here.
You don’t need to use every feature. But choosing the right ones and using them with purpose can give your brand the edge in a busy feed.
At Together, we help brands cut through the noise with strategies that make sense, not just trends that fade. Ready to make these tools work for your growth?
Let’s build something that lasts, reach out to us now!
