Summary:
- Instagram is testing a new feature similar to Snap Maps.
- The tool allows users to share location-based content with selected groups.
- The feature is in a limited test phase with privacy controls.
Instagram, led by Mark Zuckerberg, is gearing up to introduce a new feature reminiscent of Snap Maps, the popular location-sharing tool launched by Snapchat in 2017. This update will allow users to share videos and text updates tied to specific locations on a map.
Speaking to The Verge, Meta spokesperson Christine Pai highlighted that the feature will include limited privacy settings, allowing users to choose a specific group of people, such as “Close Friends” or only followers they follow back, to share their location with.
The new Instagram feature also enables users to post content based on the location where it was captured. However, Pai noted that this feature is currently available only in a few markets as part of a “small test.”
Although Instagram has not disclosed which markets are testing the tool, the company emphasized that the feature is opt-in and includes controls over location sharing to ensure user safety. The spokesperson did not confirm if public sharing will be an option or how long posts will remain available.
Earlier this year, Instagram developed a similar feature under the name “Friend Map,” but images of the tool in action have only recently surfaced. The full rollout details remain undisclosed.