Instagram’s newly launched Map feature enables users to share their real-time locations with friends, prompting worries about privacy and security. Rolled out on Wednesday for users in the U.S., this feature, akin to Snap Maps, allows you to see friends nearby on a Map accessible via the Messages tab. Additionally, you can view posts associated with specific locations shared by friends or creators you follow, provided they have enabled location sharing, which is turned off by default.
Location sharing tools present a mixed bag, offering enjoyment and utility while also introducing potential dangers. They can grant insights into your regular locations to third-party advertisers and may be exploited by malicious actors or in instances of domestic digital harassment. Instagram has taken steps to address these concerns. As noted by Mashable’s Digital Culture Editor Crystal Bell, “While location sharing serves as a typical tool for tracking loved ones, organizing events, or checking on others, Instagram’s new feature offers strong controls and versatile privacy settings.”
How does location sharing function on Instagram? Prior to the Maps feature, Instagram rolled out location sharing in November 2024, specifically for DMs. According to Meta, location sharing is initially off unless you choose to turn it on. When enabled, your location automatically updates whenever you launch the app or return to it if it’s running in the background. You can customize who sees your location, whether it’s friends, followers you follow back, Close Friends, selected friends, or no one at all. You can only share your location with accounts you are following and can block specific individuals from viewing it. If you choose to share your location, it refreshes every time you access the app and vanishes after 24 hours of inactivity.
With Instagram Maps, if you’ve opted to share your location with someone, they can see it on Maps, via tagged posts, and in chats. You can also view others who have enabled location sharing and swipe up to see a list of those sharing their location with you. To DM someone, simply tap their icon on the Map. Even if location sharing is disabled, you can still access the Map and see users who have shared their location with you.
In the Map, different shapes represent your settings: a blue arrow indicates you’re sharing your location with your chosen audience, a red dot signifies you’re not sharing your location, and an orange triangle means you need to enable location permissions on your device to share your location. You can disable location sharing at any point if it’s active. Here’s how:
1. Open Instagram.
2. Tap the arrow icon in the upper right corner to access Messages.
3. Tap the Map feature at the top of your inbox.
4. Tap the cog icon in the upper right corner to access Settings.
5. Select your location sharing preferences, customizing who you share your location with—friends, followers you follow back, Close Friends, selected friends, or no one. You can only share your location with accounts you follow and may exclude certain people from seeing it.
6. Tap “Update.”
For teens on Instagram, Meta enables parents to determine whether their child can utilize location sharing and see who their child is sharing it with. Parents receive a notification if their teen begins sharing their location. “If you’re a parent with supervision set up for your teen, you have authority over their location sharing experience on the map,” the company declared.