Instagram Introduces New Real-Time Location Sharing Feature, Check How It Works

Instagram is reportedly piloting a new feature that will enable users to share real-time location-based updates with their friends . This feature, which has been in development since February, is currently undergoing testing in select markets, as reported by The Verge.

The upcoming feature will allow Instagram users to attach text or video updates to specific locations on a map . These updates will be visible only to users who follow them back or those added to their Close Friends list. Updates from friends will be displayed together on the map. This feature will not be automatically activated for all users.

Unlike Snapchat’s Snap Maps, which has been offering a similar feature since 2017 and allows public sharing of location updates, Instagram is opting for a more private approach. “We are prioritizing user safety with this feature,” said a Meta spokesperson.

The duration for which map updates will remain visible is still uncertain.

This isn’t Instagram’s first attempt at location-based features. In 2012, the platform tested a feature for viewing photos on a map, but it did not gain traction due to limitations in sharing options.