The Instagram app is showing in a mobile display. Image: The Hindu Business Line
Instagram is testing a new feature that could change the way users share their whereabouts. This latest update allows users to share real-time text or video updates pinned to specific locations on a map. Although the feature has been in development since February, it is now being tested in a few select regions.
Here's how it works: users can post updates that are linked to the exact spot they were made. These updates will only be visible to people who follow them back or who are part of their Close Friends list. When friends post similar updates, these will appear together on the same map. This approach aims to keep location sharing more private compared to other platforms.
This new feature mirrors a function that has been available on Snapchat since 2017. However, Snapchat's Snap Maps allows users to share their locations with a wider audience, potentially exposing their whereabouts to everyone. Instagram's version focuses more on privacy, as updates will not be automatically visible to the public.
A Meta spokesperson emphasized that Instagram is designing this feature with safety in mind. It remains uncertain how long these location updates will stay visible on the map. Previously, in 2012, Instagram tested a similar feature where users could see their photos on a map. However, it did not gain much traction since it lacked sharing capabilities.
