Instagram has rolled out a new feature called “Instagram Map,” enabling users to share their latest activity locations with friends and discover location-based content.
The Meta-owned platform is also introducing post re-sharing and a new “Friends” tab on its short-form video service, Reels, available globally.
The “Map” update closely mirrors a popular feature on rival Snapchat, following Instagram’s earlier adoption of the Stories format from Snapchat in 2016.
With more than 400 million monthly active users, Instagram surpasses Snapchat’s Snap Map in reach, making the new feature one of its most prominent additions in recent years.
According to Instagram, location sharing on Instagram Map is switched off by default. Users’ location data will only update when the app is opened, meaning it does not provide live location tracking.
By contrast, Snap Map allows users to choose between updating their location only when using the app or sharing it in real time.
Instagram says the new tool will make it easier for friends to coordinate meet-ups and for users to explore content linked to places shared by friends and favorite creators.
For example, if a friend attends a nearby music festival and posts a Story, it will appear on the map. Similarly, if a creator uploads a short video about a new restaurant, its location will be tagged on Instagram Map.
Regardless of whether a user shares their own location, the map can still be used to explore geographically tagged content. The feature also allows users to leave short “notes” on the map for others to see.
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