If you‘re an avid Instagram user, you may have noticed a green "Following" button pop up on certain profiles while browsing the app. This unassuming color change actually carries a lot of significance – it‘s a signal that you‘ve marked this person as a "Close Friend."
In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll break down exactly what the green Following button means, how the Close Friends feature works, and why it matters in the context of digital communication and privacy. As a tech industry veteran and social media expert, I‘ll also share my own insights and experiences with using Close Friends. Let‘s dive in!
What Does a Green Following Button Mean on Instagram?
The Following button on Instagram is usually a neutral white color. However, it turns green for any profiles you‘ve personally added to your "Close Friends" list. This green button is only visible to you though. If you add someone as a close friend, their Following button will turn green for you, but your Following button on their profile will remain white (unless they also add you as a close friend).
So in short, a green Following button is an indicator to you that you will see this person‘s exclusive Close Friends content, but it doesn‘t reveal whether they‘ll see yours. It‘s a one-way visual cue.
How Does the Close Friends Feature Work?
Launched in 2018, Instagram‘s Close Friends feature allows you to create a private list of your closest contacts to share more personal Stories with. You can add or remove people from your Close Friends list at any time without them being notified. Only you can see your list.
When posting a Story, you have the option to share it only with your Close Friends rather than all followers. These Stories are marked with a green ring around your profile picture, letting your Close Friends know it‘s an exclusive post for them. If someone isn‘t on your list, they simply won‘t see the Story at all.
The idea is to enable users to share more intimate, unfiltered content with a curated inner circle. It‘s like having a private Instagram account nested within your main account.
The Psychology and Etiquette of Close Friends
The ability to selectively share content taps into some key psychological concepts:
Privacy and Trust – We all have aspects of our lives we only feel comfortable sharing with trusted confidants. Close Friends provides a safe, controlled space to be more vulnerable online.
Social Comparison – Seeing friends post glamorous Stories can trigger feelings of envy or inferiority. More authentic, relatable Close Friends content may alleviate this.
FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) – Getting added to someone‘s Close Friends can feel special, but being left out can sting. The feature plays on our desire for social validation.
When it comes to Close Friends etiquette, the key is to add people mindfully, not out of obligation. It‘s okay to be selective – you‘re not rejecting someone as a friend, just curating what they see. And don‘t assume a mutual close friendship just because you see a green button. They may not realize the significance.
Close Friends By the Numbers
Just how popular is the Close Friends feature? Here are some key statistics:
- Instagram has over 1 billion monthly active users as of 2022
- 39% of those users post Stories daily
- 62% of users say they have become more interested in a brand/product after seeing it in Stories
- Instagram has not released official data on Close Friends usage
- A 2021 study of 2,000 US & UK Instagram users found:
- 35% post to Close Friends at least weekly
- 20% have over 20 people on their Close Friends list
- 43% add romantic partners as Close Friends
- 31% add coworkers to Close Friends
These numbers suggest Close Friends is catching on as a way to share to niche audiences. But it‘s still not as widely used as public Stories, perhaps due to confusion or wariness around the feature.
Close Friends vs Other Social Media Features
Instagram certainly isn‘t the first platform to offer selective sharing tools:
Snapchat has "Custom Stories" that can be shared with a hand-picked group of friends, similar to Close Friends. However, Snapchat notifies users when they‘re added to a private story.
Facebook allows you to create Friend Lists and customize your post audience. You can choose to share a post with a certain list, like Close Friends or Acquaintances.
Twitter has "Twitter Circle," letting you tweet to a select group of up to 150 people. Unlike Close Friends, you can see a list of everyone else in a mutual Twitter Circle.
The key difference is Instagram doesn‘t notify or reveal to users who else is on someone‘s Close Friends list. This can make it feel more exclusive and mysterious.
Close Friends Considerations for Influencers & Brands
For influencers and brands who use Instagram marketing, Close Friends presents some interesting opportunities and challenges:
Influencers could use Close Friends to share premium, "patron-only" content to top fans who pay a subscription fee, creating an additional revenue stream.
Brands could add their most engaged followers to a Close Friends list and reward them with exclusive perks, discounts, or sneak peeks, fostering loyalty.
However, the lack of metrics for Close Friends makes it harder to track the ROI of this exclusive content. Brands may prefer to focus on public Stories that generate more measurable engagement.
Influencers need to be mindful not to alienate followers by reserving too much content for Close Friends. A balance of public and private content is key.
As an industry expert, I predict we may see the rise of Close Friends subscription models, but widespread usage will depend on the ability to monetize and measure results.
Privacy and Surveillance Concerns
The option to share to smaller audiences on social media can be empowering, but also raises some ethical questions around privacy:
Even if you carefully curate your Close Friends, there‘s still a risk they could screenshot your Stories and share them more widely without your consent.
Instagram has access to data on which users interact privately, giving them a massive trove of intel into our inner social lives and interests. How might this private data be used?
The psychological allure of feeling like someone‘s Close Friend could be leveraged to get users to share more than they‘re truly comfortable with.
As social media enables more private sharing, will we become desensitized to digital surveillance in our quest for intimacy and validation?
These are crucial considerations as we navigate an increasingly connected world. Educating users on privacy best practices and holding platforms accountable for their data usage will be an ongoing need.
The Future of Close Friends
As a tech trend watcher, I‘m fascinated to see how Close Friends and similar features will evolve. Some predictions:
Expanded Customization – Instagram could let you create multiple Close Friends lists for different groups like family, college buddies, and coworkers.
Content Controls – We may see more granular settings on Close Friends Stories, like view limits, screenshotting blocking, and auto-deletion.
Monetization – An option to charge access to Close Friends content could be a game-changer for creators looking to get paid directly by fans.
IRL Integration – Imagine a Close Friends Story that can only be unlocked when you‘re hanging out with that person in real life, gamifying intimacy.
Encryption – With privacy concerns mounting, we may see a shift towards end-to-end encrypted messaging within Close Friends to prevent prying eyes.
Of course, only time will tell which of these come to pass. But as an avid Close Friends user myself, I‘m excited to dream up and test drive new ways this feature can enhance our online social lives.
Key Takeaways
To sum up, the green Following button on Instagram is a powerful little symbol, indicating a private but meaningful bond between users. The Close Friends feature it represents taps into core human needs around belonging and privacy.
As social media keeps evolving, Close Friends is part of a larger trend towards more intimate, bespoke communication online. While not without its complications, when used thoughtfully, it can be a really special way to stay connected to your nearest and dearest.
So next time you see that green Following appear, take a moment to appreciate its significance. And more importantly, consider how you can use the Close Friends feature to foster richer digital dialogues that feel true to your most authentic self. That‘s the real key to unlocking meaningful connections online.
