Maximizing Instagram Maps: A Guide to Setting Up Location Sharing
This week, Instagram launched a new feature called Instagram Map, akin to Snap Map, enabling U.S. users to share their current location and discover content tied to specific locations.
Activating your location on Instagram Map means it only updates when you open the app or have it running in the background. Unlike Snap Map, which provides real-time updates, this feature does not offer continuous location tracking.
Meta has clarified that location sharing is turned off by default in Instagram Map. The head of Instagram, Adam Mosseri, emphasized user safety by ensuring that the feature is opt-in and mentioned that many users are “confused” about its operation.
For instance, users might open the feature and find it populated with information from other users. This occurs because the feature automatically includes location tags from recently shared Stories or Reels that have tagged places.
It’s noteworthy that Instagram has previously displayed location tags in its map view. However, the new Instagram Map feature significantly improves access to this data, prompting you to reconsider adding location tags to your Stories and Reels while you are still at the location.
If you want to keep your location off on Instagram Map, we will provide instructions below.
How to access Instagram Map
To utilize the new feature, head to your DMs (direct messages) and select the “Map” option at the top. If this is your first visit to the feature, a pop-up will likely notify you about the new Map functionality.
The pop-up will clarify that your location remains private unless you decide to share it, and you can modify your settings at any time.
How to set your location-sharing preferences
Upon your first entry into the Map, a prompt will ask, “Who can see your location.” You can choose to share it with Friends (followers you follow back), your Close Friends list, select users, or decline sharing altogether.
To adjust your preferences, tap on your profile, then the settings icon in the top-right corner, select “Story, live and location,” and choose “Location sharing.” Here, you can change your settings.
Remember that even if you turn off location sharing, others can still choose to share their location with you, so you’ll still see them on the Map.
How to use Instagram Map
When you launch the app, you’ll be able to see the locations of friends who opted to share their whereabouts with you. Additionally, you will come across location-based Stories and Reels from accounts you follow.
For instance, if a friend visited a nearby music festival and shared a story during their time there, it will appear on the map. Similarly, if a creator you follow posts a reel about a new restaurant in your vicinity, it will be visible on Instagram Map.
Even if your location sharing is disabled, you will continue to see location-specific content on the Map.
You can also leave short, disappearing messages, known as “Notes,” on the map for others to see. Instagram Notes are brief messages that currently show up at the top of your direct messaging feed, and with the rollout of Instagram Map, these messages will also be displayed on the map when associated with a location.
