Apple’s Find My Friends feature (now part of the Find My app) allows users to share their location with others in real time. Soon, Instagram will introduce a similar capability, enabling users to share their location with friends and family directly through the platform.
Instagram Introduces Live Location Sharing
On Monday, Meta revealed several new features for Instagram’s direct messaging, including location sharing. According to a blog announcement, this feature aims to streamline the process of organizing get-togethers directly within Instagram conversations. “Spend more time together, and less time coordinating,” the statement emphasizes.
To protect user privacy, location sharing will only be available in DMs or group chats. This feature is disabled by default, and live location sharing is limited to one hour; after that period, Instagram automatically halts the location sharing. Additionally, the app will show an indicator to inform users when their location is being shared. It’s crucial to avoid sharing your location with unknown individuals.
Unlike Apple’s Find My, Instagram does not offer an option for perpetual location sharing among users. Earlier this year, Meta confirmed it was experimenting with a feature akin to Snap Map to display friends’ locations on a map; however, this functionality has yet to be rolled out to users.
Alongside location sharing, Instagram will also introduce new sticker packs for direct messages and the ability to create custom nicknames for individuals in group conversations.
The Instagram app for iPhone is available for free on the App Store. To access the latest features, ensure you have the most current version of the app installed on your device. Please note that the location sharing feature is currently available only in “selected countries.”
Also Read
FTC: We utilize income-earning auto affiliate links. More.
