How to add someone's story to your own story
You can repost someone else's story to your own story on Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat, but the exact steps and what you're allowed to do differ by platform. On Instagram, you can share a story directly to your own story using the share button, and the original creator gets tagged. On TikTok, you can duet or stitch videos, which creates a new post that shows both the original and your response side by side. On Snapchat, you can save a story and then upload it to your own story, though the original creator won't be notified. Each platform handles attribution differently — some make it obvious who created the original, and some don't.
The reason these platforms built in these features is to encourage sharing and conversation. When you repost properly, the original creator usually gets notified and can see that their content is being shared. This matters because it affects whether they want you reposting their content in the first place, and whether they'll see it as a compliment or as you taking credit for their work.
Key Takeaways
- Instagram's share button sends the original story directly to your story and notifies the creator, making it clear who made the original content.
- TikTok's duet and stitch features let you respond to or react to someone else's video, and both videos appear together so viewers see the original.
- Snapchat lets you save and repost stories, but the original creator won't be notified and viewers won't see who made it first.
- Reposting without permission or without crediting the creator can damage your relationship with them and may violate platform rules if the content is copyrighted.
- Some creators turn off the ability to share their stories, so you may not always have the option to repost even if you want to.
Reposting on Instagram
On Instagram, the easiest way to add someone's story to your story is to use the built-in share button. Open the story you want to repost, look for the paper airplane icon or the three dots menu, and tap "Add post to your story" or "Share to story." Instagram will add that story to your story, and it will show a label saying who the original creator is. The original creator gets a notification that you shared their story.
If the creator has turned off story sharing, you won't see the share button at all. In that case, you can't repost their story directly through Instagram's tools. Some creators do this because they want to control where their content appears or because they don't want their stories shared widely. Respecting that choice means not screenshotting and reposting without their permission.
When you repost someone's story on Instagram, viewers can tap on the label to see the original creator's profile. This means the original creator gets credit and potentially new followers from your repost. This is why Instagram built the feature — it rewards creators for making shareable content and makes it obvious where the content came from.
Reposting on TikTok
TikTok doesn't have a direct "repost to your profile" button the way Instagram does. Instead, TikTok offers two ways to respond to someone else's video: duet and stitch. A duet shows your video and the original video side by side, so viewers see both at once. A stitch lets you clip a short part of someone else's video and add it to the beginning of your own video, so you're responding to or building on what they said.
To duet, open the video you want to respond to, tap the share icon, and select "Duet." TikTok will open your camera and let you record your reaction or response. Your duet will appear on your profile, and the original creator will be notified. To stitch, tap the share icon and select "Stitch," then choose which part of the original video you want to include. Your stitch also notifies the original creator.
Both duet and stitch are designed for you to add your own content — your reaction, your opinion, your version of something. They're not meant for reposting someone else's video unchanged. If you want to share a TikTok video without adding your own response, you can send it to someone privately or share the link, but you can't repost it to your own profile as if it's your content.
Reposting on Snapchat
Snapchat's approach to reposting is different from Instagram and TikTok. You can save someone else's story to your phone, then upload it to your own story. Open the story you want to save, tap and hold on it, and select "Save." The story will be saved to your phone's camera roll or Snapchat's memories. Then you can add it to your story like you would any other photo or video.
The catch is that when you repost on Snapchat, the original creator won't be notified, and viewers won't see a label showing who created it first. This means you need to manually credit the person — either by tagging them in the caption or by saying their name in the video. Without that credit, viewers might think you created the content, which isn't fair to the original creator.
Because Snapchat doesn't have built-in attribution, it's especially important to ask permission before reposting someone's story. The original creator has no way to know you're sharing their content unless you tell them, and they have no way to control whether you're crediting them. Many creators prefer that you ask first rather than assume it's okay.
When you should ask permission first
Even when a platform makes it straightforward to repost, you should ask permission first if the content is personal, sensitive, or if the creator has a reason to care who sees it. If someone posted a story about something private — a health issue, a relationship problem, a moment they only wanted close friends to see — reposting it to your larger audience breaks their trust. The fact that the platform allows it doesn't mean the creator wants it shared.
You should also ask permission if the creator is someone you don't know well or if you're reposting to a very different audience. A story that makes sense to share with your close friends might not make sense to share with your 10,000 followers, or with a professional audience, or with people from a different community. The context matters.
If you're unsure, send them a message: "I loved your story about [topic] — would you mind if I shared it to my story?" Most creators will say yes, and the ones who say no are telling you something important about their boundaries. Respecting that is what keeps people comfortable sharing in the first place.
What happens if a creator turns off story sharing
On Instagram, some creators turn off the ability for others to share their stories. You'll know this happened because the share button won't appear when you try to open their story. This is a deliberate choice by the creator, and it means they don't want their stories reposted. Screenshotting and reposting anyway defeats the purpose of their choice and can feel like you're ignoring their wishes.
On TikTok, creators can turn off duets and stitches for specific videos or for all their videos. If you try to duet or stitch and the option doesn't appear, the creator has disabled it. Again, this is intentional, and it means they want to control how their content is used.
Snapchat doesn't have a setting to prevent saves, so technically anyone can save and repost your story. But that doesn't mean they should without asking. The absence of a technical barrier doesn't equal permission.
Crediting the original creator
When you repost, make sure the original creator gets credit. On Instagram, the platform does this automatically with the label. On TikTok, duet and stitch both show the original video, so credit is built in. On Snapchat, you have to do it yourself — tag them in the caption, mention their username, or say their name in the video.
If you're reposting a screenshot or a video you downloaded from somewhere else, include the original creator's name or handle somewhere visible in your post. Don't make viewers hunt for it. A straightforward "Credit: @username" or "Original by @username" takes two seconds and is the right thing to do.
Crediting the creator also protects you. If the content turns out to be copyrighted or if the creator objects to how you used it, you can show that you gave credit and weren't trying to claim it as your own. It's not a complete shield, but it shows good faith.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I repost someone's story if they have a private account?
On Instagram, if someone has a private account and you follow them, you can see their stories and share them the same way you would a public account's story. If you don't follow them, you can't see their stories at all. On TikTok and Snapchat, the same logic applies — you need to be connected to them to see their content. Reposting rules don't change based on whether the account is private.
What if someone reposts my story without asking?
On Instagram, you can see who shared your story by looking at the list of people who viewed it — sharers appear at the top. You can send them a message asking them to take it down. On TikTok, you can report a duet or stitch if it violates your rights. On Snapchat, you may not know unless they tell you. If someone reposted your content and you're uncomfortable, ask them to remove it. Most people will.
Can I get in trouble for reposting someone's story?
If you repost with credit and permission, no. If you repost without credit and claim it as your own, the original creator can report you for copyright infringement, and the platform may remove your post or suspend your account. If the content is someone's creative work — music, art, a video they spent time making — they have the right to control how it's used. Reposting without permission is riskier than reposting with it.
Is it okay to repost memes or viral content?
Memes and viral content are designed to be shared, so reposting them is usually fine. But even with memes, crediting the original creator or the account where you found it is the respectful choice. If a meme started with a specific person or account, that person deserves to be known as the source. Viral content spreads because people share it, but sharing with credit is better than sharing without it.