We may have Ava Fabian Archivesjust gotten an early look at a ton of new Instagram features.

Instagram has been busy testing several new features, including a "close friends" feature, GIF search, and the ability to follow specific hashtags the way you'd follow an account, according to the tech site The Next Web.

SEE ALSO: Instagram's most popular posts of 2017

One of the most interesting features the website found was something called "close friends," which will allow users to share posts with only a small group of their closest friends. This appears to be an extension of the "favorites" feature the app began testing earlier this year.

Originally created in response to the "finsta"phenomenon -- users creating a separate stealth Instagram account for only close friends -- favorites was billed as a way for people to maintain the ability to share with small groups of friends without having to juggle multiple accounts.

An Instagram spokesperson who spoke to Mashabledeclined to comment.

Mashable Light Speed Want more out-of-this world tech, space and science stories? Sign up for Mashable's weekly Light Speed newsletter. By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Thanks for signing up!

Other notable features uncovered by TNWinclude:

  • GIF search (via Giphy) to add animated GIFS to Stories

  • the ability to follow specific hashtags

  • native sharing to WhatsApp

  • the ability to "archive" Stories

Additionally, the site found a new button on Instagram posts that they claim is a "regram" feature that will allow users to re-share posts from others. There's not a ton of information about this one, but according to TNW, it would replicate the functionality of third-party apps like Repost for Instagram.

However, it's important to note that The Next Webdid not test the feature. It appears that the site's editors are judging the button's functionality based on its appearance and resemblance to third-party tools.

It's also important to remember Instagram, like Facebook, frequently tests new features in its app before deciding whether or not to launch them officially.

Still, the experiments offer an interesting look at what types of features the company is thinking about and which areas they're looking to change.

Featured Video For You
The OnePlus 5T could have been perfect—if it weren't for its cameras

Topics Instagram Social Media