Meta's owned social media representative said that this is just an internal prototype and has not been tested outside.
According to leaks discovered from this feature, users will choose their favorite movies, books, TV shows, games, and music. Instagram will then find a match with friends with similar options.
Although not yet disclosed, Instagram can consider Picks as a way for users to connect more personally and stimulate conversations around common interests.
Previously, Instagram Director Adam Mosseri said that in 2025, the platform will focus on creativity and connection: "We will promote messaging, making content consumption more interactive and social, while exploring new ways to connect with friends".
If widely rolled out, Pick could open up a new approach for Instagram in increasing user interaction, rather than focusing only on likes or comments under the post.
Finding common "touches" such as movies, books or music not only helps friends bond more but also creates opportunities for users to explore new interests through their connection rounds.
However, Instagram also faces a big challenge. In recent years, the platform has continuously added new features, making many users feel that the application is increasingly "heavy" and losing the original simplicity.
If Pick is not designed to be streamlined, easy to use and truly bring value, the risk of being placed on the surplus features list is inevitable.
In addition, collecting personal favorite information to operate Picks can also make users worry about privacy. To be successful, Instagram needs to ensure transparency in how data is processed and create a control mechanism for users. This will be a key factor for this feature to be positively received instead of controversial.
