Instagram Testing New Real-Time Friend Location-Sharing Feature

Instagram is testing a new feature that allows users to share real-time updates on a map with their friends. According to a report by The Verge, this feature has been in development since February and is now being rolled out in select markets for testing.

With this update, users can post text or video updates that are pinned to specific locations. These updates will only be visible to users who follow you back or are included in your Close Friends list, allowing users to limit who can see their location to a refined list of trusted accounts.

Unlike Snapchat’s similar feature, Snap Maps, Instagram’s approach is meant for smaller-scale and more personal use. This also emphasises better user safety and allows Instagram friends to meet up directly through the platform, rather than having to share their location through DMs or download other apps to track each other consistently.

This new map-based feature marks Instagram’s latest attempt to integrate location-based sharing into its platform. In 2012, Instagram experimented with a similar map feature, but it was discontinued due to limited user engagement. The current test will help determine if the new version can offer more value to users while maintaining a focus on privacy and security.

The duration for which these map updates will be visible has not yet been disclosed. As the feature undergoes testing, its potential impact on user interaction and engagement will be closely watched, and it will undoubtedly change as features are tweaked and adjusted to better suit its intended uses.

This is just one of many instances of a social media app trying to open up more in-person meeting opportunities, and is also one of the more secure examples currently on offer. The stronger emphasis on user control and safety cold make these tracking tools invaluable if they are officially adopted into the platform as a whole.