Instagram is working on a new feature that will allow users to share on a map using their location. This feature allows users to post text and video updates on a map based on their location, and this content can be shared with a select group of friends. Users can also see their friends’ posts on the map, allowing them to have a more interactive social media experience with each other. Instagram’s move is notable for its similarity to Snap Maps, which was launched in 2017.
The new map feature, while developed with user safety in mind, does have some differences from Snapchat in terms of privacy settings. Instagram offers users the option to share their location information only with a select group of friends, such as “Close Friends” or people they mutually follow. This is a more restrictive structure compared to the public sharing option on Snapchat. According to a statement from Meta spokesperson Christine Pai, the feature has only been launched as a small test in a few countries for now and is completely optional. However, there is no clear information yet on when the feature will be widely available and how long users’ posts will be visible on the map.
Instagram’s evolving features: Location sharing in the competitive social media landscape
Instagram’s new map feature was first noticed in February as a prototype called “Friend Map.” Last week, some images of the feature started circulating on social media. Although it has not yet been announced which countries the feature is being tested in, it may be planned to be offered to a wider audience based on user reactions and feedback.
Instagram has previously drawn attention to developing new features inspired by rival platforms. For example, with features such as Snapchat-inspired Stories, TikTok-inspired Reels, and Twitter-based Threads, Instagram has managed to strengthen its competitive position in the social media space. Now, it seems determined to continue this strategy by developing a structure similar to Snapchat’s map feature.
This new map feature is reminiscent of an old feature that Instagram introduced in 2012 that allowed users to see their photos on a map. However, at the time, the feature only allowed users to see their own photos and did not offer any social interaction. The feature was removed four years later due to low usage, but now it has the potential to return with a more social experience.
Instagram’s map-based sharing feature, if widely available, could change users’ social media usage habits and further intensify competition between platforms. In particular, this feature, which allows users to share their location information in a more secure and controlled manner, could put Instagram one step ahead in the social media world. However, whether the feature will be fully available and what kind of user experience it will provide will become clear in the future.