Instagram is experimenting with a new location-sharing feature that enables users to share their real-time location with friends. This feature is designed to help users stay connected by providing updates on where they are, making it easier to coordinate meetups or keep others informed. While potentially useful for social interactions, the feature also raises concerns about privacy and data security, prompting discussions about how Instagram will address these issues.

The Verge reports that Instagram is testing a new tool that allows users to share real-time changes with pals on a map. After being developed in February, this functionality is currently being tested in a few minor markets.

You can now share text or video updates that are pinned to the precise spot where they are posted thanks to this upgrade. There is a catch, though: the only individuals who can view them are those on your Close Friends list or those you follow back. A shared experience will result from your friends’ updates appearing on the same map. Crucially, not everyone will have this functionality enabled by default.

If this sounds familiar, it is because Snap Maps, a comparable function, has been a part of Snapchat since 2017. However, Instagram is being more circumspect than Snapchat, which permits public map updates. A representative for Meta stated, “As usual, safety is our first priority when developing this feature.” How long these changes will remain visible on the map is currently unknown.

Instagram has already experimented with similar things. They allowed users to see their uploaded images on a map back in 2012. But since those pictures could not be shared, the feature did not take off.

Instagram appears to be emphasizing a more personal, in-control experience this time.

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