Instagram is testing a new feature very similar to Snapchat’s popular Snap Maps. It allows users to share text and video updates on a map based on their location. This feature, currently in limited testing in select markets, raises concerns about privacy and location sharing.
The new Instagram feature allows users to post content that appears on a shared map visible to a pre-selected circle of friends. However, unlike Snap Maps, which allows public posting, Instagram’s current implementation appears to have tighter privacy controls.
“Users must select a ‘specific group of people’ with whom they share their location, such as ‘close friends or just followers they follow back,'” Christine Pai, a spokesperson for Meta, told The Verge.
While Instagram is focusing on safety and user control, questions remain about the ability to share locations more widely and the length of time posts remain visible on the map. Pai did not immediately address those concerns.
“Instagram’s feature is currently only available as a ‘small test’ in some markets,” Pai explained. “The tool is optional and includes location sharing controls. ‘As always, we are developing this feature with safety in mind.'”
The launch of this location-based feature is in line with Instagram’s history of borrowing ideas from competitors. Notable examples include Stories (inspired by Snapchat), Reels (inspired by TikTok), and Threads (inspired by Twitter).
This isn’t Instagram’s first foray into location-based features. In 2012, the platform introduced a private photo map that displayed users’ photos based on location, but this feature was discontinued in 2016 due to low usage.
If the new map sharing feature is rolled out across the board, it could have a significant impact on the way users interact with location-based content and, depending on the controls and sharing options implemented, potentially raise new privacy concerns.
