Instagram has rolled out a live test of its new “Friend Map” feature, which has been in development for some time. This feature allows users to see the locations of their friends on a dedicated map within the app.
According to Instagram, the “Friend Map” will show both your current location and places you’ve visited, including any posts or Stories tagged with a location, which will then appear on the map. Users can also add Notes to any location, providing feedback and insights to friends based on their experiences.
This feature aims to enhance engagement and interaction, though Instagram is cautious due to potential privacy concerns. The Friend Map, currently being tested by a small group of users, is limited to sharing with people on your “Close Friends” list or mutual follows. Public location sharing and tagging are not part of this feature.
Similar to Snapchat’s Snap Map, this approach is intended to mitigate privacy risks. However, there are inherent risks, such as the possibility of accidentally sharing location details with someone who poses a threat.
Despite the risks, for those who carefully manage their connections, the Friend Map could be a useful tool for organizing real-life meet-ups and fostering social interactions on Instagram. This feature is primarily aimed at younger users, a demographic that Instagram is keen to retain amidst increasing competition from TikTok and Snapchat.
Younger users are increasingly using Instagram’s DMs rather than the main feed or Stories, and Instagram has been trying to capitalize on this trend with features like Notes, which have proven popular with this audience. The Friend Map could further enhance intimate engagement and social connections on the platform. If successful, it might replicate the popularity of similar features on Snapchat, which recently celebrated a milestone of 850 million active users.
