Instagram is currently developing “Blend,” a new feature that enables users to curate a personalized feed of reels tailored specifically for them and a selected friend. The company informed Eltrys on Friday that the feature is currently an internal prototype and is not undergoing external testing.
Alessandro Paluzzi, a reverse engineer who frequently uncovers social media features in development before their official release, initially identified the feature. Paluzzi’s X screenshot revealed that a Blend would integrate “reels recommendations” based on your shared reels and your interests in reels.
Put simply, when you invite a friend to a “Blend,” Instagram will curate a customized feed of reels that it deems appealing to both of you. Blend appears to mirror Spotify’s 2021 introduction of the same name. It enables two individuals to merge their preferred songs into a single shared playlist. 
The screenshot suggests that you and the other user maintain the confidentiality of blends, and you have the freedom to leave a blend at any time. Instagram did not provide any specific information regarding the feature or its update frequency for recommendations.
The feature aims to enable users to explore new reels collectively, thereby enhancing the discovery and watch time of reels on Instagram. Given the existing practice of sharing reels through DMs, Instagram has taken a proactive approach to recommend and display reels that it deems suitable for a pair of users.
Like any other prototype, it is uncertain when or if Instagram intends to release the feature to the public.
If launched, Blend would provide Instagram Reels users with an entertaining and cooperative feature that is currently unavailable on its competitor platform, TikTok. While the two products share similarities, the introduction of “Blend” might provide Instagram with a slight advantage over TikTok. However, it is worth noting that TikTok still maintains significant dominance in the short-form video market.
