What does the green striped ring mean for Instagram stories If you are an active Instagram user, you may have noticed that some Instagram Stories look different than others. The different colors of the frames around the user icons mean something different. If you notice a green circle among the usual red circles, you may be wondering what its importance is.
Read on to find out what the green circle around Instagram Stories means and how you can get one.
Instagram stories green circle
Instagram Stories are time-limited posts and only available for 24 hours. You can see the stories of the people you follow at the top of your Instagram feed.
The Instagram Stories you haven’t seen yet usually have a reddish-orange edge. Once you view these Stories, their edges will become faint gray, and they will be moved to the end of the Stories list.
However, you may also come across an Instagram Story with a bright green edge instead of the usual red. Let’s see what this means.
Why do Instagram stories have a green circle?
If you see a green circle around a user’s Instagram story – congratulations! It suggests that they consider you a close friend. The green circle around the icon means that they have posted a private story, shared with only a select group of people.
When you want to share something with only some of your followers, you can create a close friends list and post stories that only those users will see. A green edge around the user icon means that they have added you to their Close Friends List. You will also see a green “Close Friends” flag inside the story.
What is the list of close friends?
Close Friends List is a private list that you can add any Instagram user to. They won’t know they’ve been added to your Close Friends list until you post a private story and they see the green circle around the pop-up icon.
You can edit the list at any time, so you can remove followers with whom you no longer want to share your private stories. They will not be notified of the change. In addition, only Close Friends will see private stories – and those who are not on the list will not know their presence at all. So, you don’t have to worry about the rest of your followers feeling left out.
Instagram introduced the Close Friends feature in 2018, which gave users better control over their privacy and audience. However, you can only share Stories with Close Friends, not the posts feed.
Why you should use Close Friends
Taking advantage of the Close Friends feature has many benefits.
- You’ll control who sees your posts – keep personal things private. Your ex doesn’t have to know what you’re going to do on Saturday!
- You can stay authentic – If you have a small business, a large following, or something similar, you may be hesitant to share a few things in your story. With Close Friends, you can maintain a professional photo while you are still alive.
- You can stay in touch with your friends – Close Friends feature is almost like a group chat. You can share personal things and keep in touch with best friends easily.
- It makes the people on your list feel special – the green circle sends the message that you consider yourself to be more of a follower than a follower. It exudes trust and helps build relationships.
- It’s good for your mental health – social media fatigue is real, but falls will leave you feeling disconnected from your friends. Connecting with a small group of people will feel more rewarding than posting to hundreds of strangers.
How to create a close friends list
Here’s how to get a green circle around your stories and make your friends feel special.
- Launch Instagram iOS or Android Application and login.
- Go to your profile and tap the three horizontal lines in the corner.
- Select “Close Friends” in the pop-up menu.
- Create a list of close friends by searching for users and checking the circle next to their name.
To edit your list later, follow the same steps.
You can also access your Close Friends list directly when you post a story:
- Swipe right on the Instagram feed or tap the “+” and “Story” icon to open the camera.
- Click on the gear icon in the upper left corner.
- Select “Story”.
- Look for the “Close Friends” option in the list.
How to publish the story of close friends
Now that your close friends list is ready, you can start publishing your own green edge stories.
- Open Instagram iOS or Android Application.
- Swipe right on the homepage or tap the ‘+’ button at the top and select ‘Story’.
- Create and edit your story.
- Tap the “Close Friends” button at the bottom of the screen when you’re done.
Other circle colors on Instagram Stories
We’ve already talked about the reddish gradient, the pale gray, and the green circle around Instagram Stories. But did you know you might come across other colors as well? During limited time events, using event stickers in your story will give a unique and colorful frame to your icon. For example, Pride Month stickers will give you a rainbow circle. A red-purple gradient circle with a “Live” sign means that the person is broadcasting live on Instagram.
Additional questions and answers
Will my friends know that I have added or removed them from the Close Friends List?
No, Instagram does not notify users when someone adds or removes them from their close friends list. However, they will know they are on your list when you post a special story and the green circle appears. If you often post private stories, users you remove may feel they are no longer on your list.
Can I change my Instagram Stories circle?
There is no setting that allows you to change the circle around your Instagram Stories. However, the color of your story circle will change when you post a close friends story, upload an Instagram Live, or use an active event sticker.
Make your friends feel special with Green Circle
The green circle around Instagram Story is much more than just an aesthetic feature. This shows that the person who is posting considers you a close friend. Close Friends on Instagram allows you to stay authentic and stay in touch with your friends even if you don’t want to share something with the majority of your followers.
Have you created your close friends list on Instagram yet? Is there anything you want to change about this feature? Let us know in the comments section below.
