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Instagram's new feature connects college students on campus

Ken Metral

26 Aug 2025 — 1 min read

Credit: Instagram/Meta Platforms, Inc.

Instagram is introducing a new feature designed to help college students connect with classmates, the company announced on Tuesday. The move closely follows TikTok’s rollout of a nearly identical feature just last week.

The new option lets U.S. students add their college or university to their profile banner after completing a verification process through the student platform UNiDAYS. Once verified, students can display their school on their profile, control who can see it, and access a student directory to find others on campus. The directory allows browsing by the entire student body or filtering by class year.

Instagram says the goal is to make it easier for students to discover and connect with peers — an idea reminiscent of Facebook’s early days, when the platform first launched in 2004 as a networking tool for Harvard students.

The feature’s launch doesn’t come as a surprise, as Instagram was spotted testing the functionality last year. While the addition could prove useful for students hoping to meet new people, it also raises potential privacy concerns, since displaying school information might make it easier for others to track individuals online. Instagram emphasizes that participation is optional, leaving students free to keep their profiles separate from their campus identity.

The timing underscores a trend of social platforms revisiting their college-focused roots. With both TikTok and Instagram chasing a similar strategy, the competition to dominate student networking is heating up.

Still, not all users may welcome the update. For some, it adds another layer to an already crowded Instagram experience, where features ranging from Reels to shopping have transformed the app far beyond its original photo-sharing simplicity.

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