What is a repost?
Also called retweet, reshare.
A repost is sharing another account's post with your own followers as it is, using the platform's built-in repost or share button, with the original creator credited.
Why it matters
Reposting lets you fill gaps in your feed with useful content you didn't have to make, support customers and partners, and show your followers what you care about. Because the platform credits the original, it's a fair way to share other people's work. The catch is balance: a feed made mostly of reposts gives people little reason to follow you rather than the original accounts.
Example
A plant shop reposts a local gardening club's video on repotting succulents, then posts its own photo of the pots and soil it stocks the next day.
How reposting works on each platform
Most apps now have a repost button. What changes is where the repost appears and whether you can add a comment.
- X: select the Repost icon and choose Repost. The post goes to all your followers. To undo it, select the highlighted Repost icon again and choose Undo repost.
- Instagram: tap the repost icon on a public reel or feed post. You can add a short note. Reposts can be recommended to your friends' and followers' feeds, appear in a separate reposts tab on your profile, and stay credited to the original poster.
- LinkedIn: select Repost under a post to share it straight away, or Repost with your thoughts to add a comment. Page super admins can repost as the Page.
- TikTok: TikTok has its own repost option for passing a video on to your followers. Check the share menu in the app for how it shows on your account.
- Facebook: Share puts a post on your Page or profile, with or without your own text.
Reposting vs re-uploading someone's content
Using the repost button is different from downloading someone's photo or video and posting it as your own. A repost keeps the original creator's name and links back to them. Re-uploading takes the work out of their hands.
If you want to post a customer's photo or video on your own grid, treat it as user-generated content: ask first, credit them by @mentioning them, and keep their name in the caption.
When to repost
A simple rule of thumb: repost when it helps your customers, not just to keep the feed busy.
- A customer or local press mentions you in a positive way.
- A supplier, partner or neighbour has news your followers would want.
- An expert explains something your customers keep asking about.
- You're on holiday or short of time and something genuinely useful turns up.
How often to repost
There's no fixed rule, but your own posts should make up most of your feed. A few reposts a week can add variety and goodwill, especially on X and LinkedIn where resharing is a normal part of the conversation. On Instagram, reposts sit in their own tab on your profile, so they don't crowd your grid. Before reposting, check the original is accurate, comes from an account you're happy to be associated with, and is still current: an expired offer or old news reflects on you too.
Common questions
Is a repost the same as a retweet?
Yes. When Twitter became X, retweets were renamed reposts. The idea is unchanged: sharing someone else's post with your followers.
Do reposts help my reach?
A repost puts someone else's post in front of your followers, which mainly helps the original account. Platforms don't publish exactly how reposts are weighted, so use them for usefulness and goodwill rather than as a growth trick.
How do I stop people reposting my content?
It depends on the app. On Instagram, no one can reuse a private account's reels, videos or photos, and a public account can turn off reuse on individual posts. On X, posts from protected accounts can't be reposted.
Sources: X Help Centre: How to repost, checked 14 October 2026; Instagram Help Centre: How to repost a reel or a post, checked 14 October 2026; Instagram Help Centre: Reuse of media on Instagram, checked 14 October 2026; LinkedIn Help: How to repost on LinkedIn, checked 14 October 2026