This week, Instagram launched a brand new Snap Map-like characteristic referred to as Instagram Map that lets U.S. customers share their most up-to-date lively location with others and uncover location-based content material.
If you happen to resolve to show in your location on Instagram Map, your location solely updates whenever you open the app or have it working within the background, which means it doesn’t present steady, real-time location updates. That is totally different from Snap Map, which lets customers select whether or not their location is up to date solely after they open the app or in actual time.
Meta says location sharing is off by default on Instagram Map. Following considerations round security, Instagram head Adam Mosseri reassured customers that the characteristic is opt-in, and famous that some individuals are “confused” about how the characteristic works.
For example, individuals are accessing the characteristic after which seeing the map populated with the situation data of some customers. It is because the characteristic routinely pulls in location tags from just lately posted Tales or Reels that embody a tagged location.
It’s price noting that this isn’t new, as Instagram already had location tags seen to customers in its map view. Nevertheless, the brand new Instagram Map characteristic makes this data lots simpler to entry. The brand new characteristic may make you rethink whether or not you wish to publish your Tales and Reels with location tags (particularly for those who’re nonetheless on the location).
For many who wish to guarantee their location is turned off on Instagram Map, we’ll stroll you thru the steps under.
Easy methods to entry Instagram Map
To entry the brand new characteristic, you’ll want to navigate to your DMs web page (direct messages) and faucet the brand new “Map” possibility on the high. If it’s your first time accessing the characteristic, you’ll doubtless see a pop-up message notifying you concerning the new Map.
The pop-up will let you know that nobody can see your location till you share it with them, and that you may change your settings at any time.
Easy methods to set your location-sharing preferences
The primary time you open Map, you will notice a web page that reads “Who can see your location.” From there, you possibly can select to share it together with your Mates (followers you comply with again), your Shut Mates listing, choose customers, or nobody.
To alter your preferences, you’ll want to click on in your profile, faucet the settings possibility within the top-right nook, choose the “Story, live and location” possibility, after which faucet the “Location sharing” button. Right here, it is possible for you to to vary your settings.
Notice that if in case you have location sharing turned off, others can nonetheless share their location with you, which suggests you’ll have the ability to see them on the Map.
Easy methods to use Instagram Map
If you open the app, you will notice the places of associates who’ve shared their location with you. Additionally, you will see location-based Tales and Reels from individuals you comply with.
For instance, in case your good friend attended a close-by music competition and posted a narrative whereas there, it’ll seem on the map. Equally, if a creator you comply with posts a reel a couple of new restaurant in your metropolis, you’ll have the ability to uncover it on Instagram Map.
You’ll nonetheless see location-based content material on the Map even if in case you have your location turned off.
You can also depart brief, ephemeral messages, or “Notes,” on the map for others to see. Instagram Notes are the brief messages that at the moment seem on the high of your direct messaging feed, however with the launch of Instagram Map, you’ll now see these posts on the map in the event that they’re shared with a location.
