The "repost" feature on Tiktok                                                                        

Guiding Tech

Is the Adaptation of the

“Reposts” Feature on TikTok and Instagram Limiting?

BY MALEEHA SHEIKH AND RAMYA CHANDRA

OCTOBER 16, 2025

     The “Reposts” feature, introduced to TikTok in August 2022 and Instagram in August 2025, has had a massive impact on its users. This new button particularly hits hard for Gen Z users, many of whom have grown up on the Internet due to the COVID-19 pandemic, having limited opportunity for growth in social interaction starting from their elementary years all the way up to high school.

     This feature allows individuals to repost pictures or videos, displaying their profile picture next to the post to show that they resonate with it. These pictures and videos are of various things on social media: an inspirational quote, a favorite movie, an upcoming NFL game, their celebrity crush, a delicious treat, or the death of a political activist. The list goes on infinitely. 

     For many, reposts have been a way for users to express themselves and their interests, carefree of what others may think about them. This button has encouraged young people, who struggle with the judgment of others, to be more outspoken. For instance, some users do not feel comfortable posting their own content, but by reposting content, they are still able to share their opinions and interests with their followers. 

     “The repost feature on TikTok is one I have both abused and protected throughout my usage of the app. I personally find it to be something through which I am able to communicate my personality to those online, in a way that can be both bold as well as sheltering. It allows you to formulate a persona of someone online, which can be good or bad depending on who’s viewing your account,” said Junior Sahana Ramkumar. 

     As Sahana said, creating a curated online persona can have both positive and negative consequences, depending on the persona you’re trying to build, and who you are trying to build it for — yourself or others?

     On the other hand, some people don’t view reposts as seriously. Senior Rishita Ahad says, “One video on TikTok cannot embody exactly what a person feels or experiences. When others see someone else’s reposts, they are quick to make assumptions —this can lead to lots of misunderstanding, miscommunication, and false perception. Most of the time, I repost videos for fun, but a lot of people might not understand that."

   The spectrum of personality and individuality is vast, and that is shown through the reposts of users all over social media. While this type of creative outlet is important to have, it is also important not to make assumptions about what they are saying because these small clips do not speak about the whole person.