Instagram is now rolling out its Map feature to users in India, allowing them to share their last active location with selected friends and explore location-tagged content. This update, which follows its initial launch in select regions in August, comes with improved privacy controls and a focus on user clarity.
How the Instagram Map Feature Works
The new Instagram Map allows users to share their last active location with chosen friends or groups. Users have the flexibility to customize their sharing preferences, selecting specific individuals or disabling sharing in certain areas, or turning it off entirely. For teen accounts under supervision, parents receive a notification when location sharing is enabled and can manage the relevant permissions.
In addition to location sharing, users can explore Reels, Stories, Notes, and posts tagged with locations by friends and creators. Content shared on the Map remains visible for 24 hours and can be accessed via the DM inbox icon.
Enhanced Privacy and Clarity
Since the global rollout, Instagram has introduced several refinements to enhance clarity and minimize user confusion. Key improvements include:
- Persistent Indicator: A constant indicator appears at the top of the Map, displaying whether location sharing is active or turned off on the device.
- Secondary Indicator: An additional indicator beneath the profile photo in the Notes tray clarifies when the user is not sharing their location.
- Profile Photo Removal: Profile photos have been removed from appearing over tagged content to prevent the assumption that it represents someone's live location.
- Educational Reminders: Users now see an educational reminder explaining that adding a location tag to a Story, Reel, or Post places it on the Map.
- Content Preview: A preview option showcases how tagged content will appear on the Map before publishing, enhancing transparency.
Addressing Privacy Concerns
The rollout of the Map feature has raised privacy concerns, including potential stalking and data misuse. Instagram has taken several steps to address these issues:
- Opt-In Feature: The location-sharing feature is turned off by default, requiring users to enable it intentionally.
- Parental Notifications: Parents receive notifications when their teen tags their location on Instagram and have the option to disable it.
- Data Security: Instagram emphasizes its commitment to protecting user data, although concerns about potential misuse persist.
How to Use the Instagram Map Feature
To access the Map feature, users can tap on the DM inbox icon. From there, they can explore location-tagged content and manage their location-sharing settings. Users can choose to share their location with a select group of friends or with anyone they follow and who follows them back.
Instagram has confirmed that the Map feature is rolling out in India and is accessible on both iOS and Android smartphones. The phased rollout means it may not be immediately available to all users but should reach every account soon.
