If you’ve ever been scrolling through Instagram Stories and noticed a green star or a green ring next to one of your friend’s profile pictures, you just glimpsed a special Instagram feature. It’s called CFS, and it’s a way to share your Stories with a very select group of people.
Below, we explain what CFS means, its benefits to you, and how you can start using it yourself by following simple step-by-step instructions.
What Does CFS on Instagram Mean?
“CFS” stands for “Close Friends Story.” Literally, it’s an Instagram Story that you create and only share with accounts you’ve added to your Close Friends list.
Benefits of Posting a Close Friends Story
Why, you may ask, would anyone want to create a list of Close Friends on Instagram and only share certain content with those accounts? To answer that question, here are the two most important benefits that people who use the CFS feature can enjoy.
Connects You with the Most Important People in Your Following
Instagram creators don’t necessarily want to share every Story with every single one of their followers. This is especially true if you’re an influencer with hundreds or thousands of followers, some of which may be bots that don’t actually engage with your content.
This is where the CFS feature comes in handy. When you create a Close Friends list on Instagram and post a CFS, you connect your content directly to the most important people in your following.
You can add anyone you want who follows you to this exclusive group, including friends, family members, colleagues, and other influencers. That way, you can be sure that only the most real and engaged people from your following can appreciate certain content.
Helps You Create a Ring of Privacy
Privacy is important, especially when you have (or are striving toward) an influential Instagram account with a large following. You need a boundary between you and all the strangers who follow you, as well as space to connect with only those you trust the most. Posting a CFS helps you create a ring of privacy inside which only certain individuals can view your more personal and sensitive content.
How To Make a Close Friends List on Instagram
Before you can share a Close Friends Story, you need people to share it with. To do that, you need to make a Close Friends list. Here’s how to do that in five steps.
Note: The steps for creating a Close Friends list on Instagram are the same for Android phones as they are for iPhones.
Step#1: Navigate to your Instagram profile by tapping your profile picture in the bottom right-hand corner of the home screen.
Step#2: Open the menu by tapping the lines icon in the top right-hand corner of your profile.
Step#3: Select “Close Friends.”
Step#4: Tap the circle next to each account you want to add to your Close Friends list. If you select a certain account by mistake, just tap it again to remove the checkmark, and that person will no longer be part of your list.
Step#5: When you’ve finished adding all your Close Friends, tap “Done.”
Now, when the users in your Close Friends list see your Story at the top of their Instagram home screen, they will notice a green ring around your profile picture. This lets them know they are members of your Close Friends list. They can also interact with your Story via likes and comments.
How To Post a Close Friends Story on Instagram
Now that your Close Friends list is filled up and ready to go, you can start sharing Stories to that group whenever you want.
Below are the steps to posting a CFS Story on Instagram.
Note: The steps for posting a Close Friends Story on Instagram are the same for Android phones as they are for iPhones.
Step#1: Tap the + button at the bottom of the home screen or swipe right to open your phone’s camera in the Instagram app.
Step#2: Use Instagram’s creation and edit features to take or upload a photo or film a video for your Story. Add visual elements like stickers, GIFS, and text to enhance the Story.
Step#3: When you’re satisfied with your Story and ready to share it, tap “Close Friends” at the bottom of your screen. This action will share the Story with that group only. No one else will be able to see it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is My Close Friends List Visible to Everyone?
No. one can see who is on your Close Friends list except you. However, some users may be able to tell who is on your list if they are on it and they notice who else engages with your CFS.
Is it Possible for Anyone Outside of My Close Friends List to See My CFS?
No. Only the members of your Close Friends list can see your CFS.
Is it Possible to Go Live on a CFS?
No. However, you can live broadcast in Practice mode and manually invite the people you want to view your Instagram live stream.
Is it Possible to Send a Bulk Message to Everyone in My Close Friends List?
No. Instagram doesn’t currently allow users to send bulk messages to the people in their Close Friends list.
Is the CFS Feature Accessible on the Desktop Version of Instagram?
No. CFS is only accessible on the Android and iPhone versions of the Instagram app.
Is there a Limit to How Many People you can Add to Your Close Friends List?
Currently, there is no limit to how many people you can add to your Close Friends list on Instagram.
Conclusion
Every tool on Instagram is designed to help users create the best content possible. Posting a CFS, or a Close Friends Story, ensures your great content gets seen by the best people possible. Follow the steps we provided in this article to start using CFS to your advantage right away!
