Instagram is building a feature called Picks. The company confirmed that Picks is an internal prototype and not in public tests. A reverse engineer first shared screenshots that show how Picks might work.
What Picks would do
Picks would let people add favorite movies, music, books, games, and shows to a list. Instagram would then find overlaps between a person and their friends. The goal is to show shared interests that can start a conversation.
How the prototype looks
Screenshots shared by the researcher show simple selection screens. People pick items they love in several categories. The app then highlights which friends picked the same items. The flow looks like a small profile add-on that focuses on favorites.
Why Instagram may add this
Instagram plans to focus on creativity and on helping people connect in 2025. The company wants the app to spark more personal conversations and more messaging between friends. Picks fit that plan by giving people easy prompts to talk about.
Privacy and the wider context
Instagram has launched other features this year that some users did not like. A recent Maps feature drew strong criticism and concern about safety and privacy. That reaction means Instagram must be careful when it rolls out features that surface personal tastes or location data. Picks deals with favorites, not with location, but users may still want clear controls over who sees their lists.
How Picks could change chat and discovery
If Picks reaches users, it could make chats less awkward. People will have a quick shared topic to discuss. Brands and creators may use Picks as a signal for trends and for content ideas. The feature could also help friends find new movies or songs when they see that many people in a group like the same thing.
Options Instagram should include
Picks will need privacy options and clear visibility settings. People should be able to choose who sees their picks. They should also be able to edit or remove items at any time. A safe rollout will let users test the feature and give feedback before it goes wide.
When and where it may appear
Instagram confirmed that Picks is a prototype and that it is not being tested with the public. That means the feature may change or never ship. If Instagram follows its usual process, it will run internal tests, then limited external trials before a full release. Watch official channels for any public test.
Picks looks like a small feature that could create more natural conversations among friends. It also comes at a time when Instagram must balance new social tools with user safety and trust. If Picks arrives, it will be another way for people to connect over the media and culture they love.