What to know
- Instagram is testing a feature similar to that of Snapchat’s Snap Maps.
- The feature allows users to share their location with a group of friends and see their friends’ locations on a map.
- The test is currently limited to select users in specific regions.
Instagram is trying out a new feature that looks like a direct copy of Snap Maps, a popular location-sharing feature on Snapchat.
The feature is designed to help users connect more easily in real life, facilitating meet-ups and social gatherings. The map will display user avatars at their current locations, similar to how Snap Maps operates.
Instagram ada new feature which will allow you to share your location to friends/public. Better be safe than sorry, don’t share yours publicly pic.twitter.com/dKBFXaOThM
— ꜰᴜʀᴀ 1 ☁︎︎ (@secretlyfura) August 6, 2024
Instagram is putting a strong emphasis on privacy and user control with this new feature. But compared to Snapchat, its privacy settings for this feature is limited. Users have to choose a specific group of people, such as their ‘Close friends’ to share their location with.
But there will be settings to control the visibility of one’s location, ensuring that users can maintain their privacy if they wish. The feature will likely include options to share location temporarily or permanently, depending on user preference.
This move is seen as part of Instagram’s broader strategy to compete with Snapchat and other social media platforms that offer similar features.
As of now, the feature is in the testing phase and is not yet available to the general public. Instagram has not provided a timeline for when the feature might be rolled out more broadly.
However, the company is closely monitoring user feedback and engagement metrics to refine the feature before a wider release. As the testing phase progresses, more details are expected to emerge about its potential launch and reception among users.
