Apple’s Find My Friends, which is now part of the Find My app, enables users to share their locations in real-time with others. Instagram is set to launch a similar feature, allowing users to share their location with friends and family directly from the platform.
Instagram to Enable Live Location Sharing
On Monday, Meta unveiled several new features aimed at enhancing Instagram direct messages, including the ability to share locations. According to a blog post by the company, this new functionality is designed to facilitate easier arrangements for social gatherings directly from Instagram chats. “Spend more time together, and less time coordinating,” the post notes.
For privacy considerations, location sharing will only occur through direct messages or group chats and will be disabled by default. Users can share their real-time location for one hour, after which Instagram will automatically cease sharing. The app will also indicate when your location is actively being shared. Naturally, users should refrain from sharing their location with strangers.
Unlike Apple’s Find My, Instagram does not support continuous location sharing. Earlier this year, Meta revealed it was testing a feature akin to Snap Map, which would display friends’ locations on a map, but this feature has not yet launched for users.
Alongside location sharing, Instagram is also introducing new sticker packs for direct messages and the option to create custom nicknames for contacts within group chats.
The Instagram application for iPhone can be downloaded for free from the App Store. Ensure you have the latest version installed to access the new features. Please note that location sharing will be available only in “selected countries” as specified by Meta.
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