Key Highlights
- Instagram’s Friend Map: Shows friends’ locations on a map
- Privacy and Security: Encrypted location data, Ghost mode available
- Like Snapchat’s Snap Map: Track friends’ locations
Instagram has gained a reputation for taking inspiration from Snapchat, and its latest endeavor, the ‘Friend Map’ feature, suggests that the company is continuing in this vein. This feature promises to allow users to track the locations of their friends directly on a map interface, suggestive of Snapchat’s Snap Map functionality. Also Read | Instagram Tips And Tricks: How To Reply To Any Reel Comment With Another Reel Video On Android, iOS
Friend Map Feature
- Instagram is currently in the testing phase for its ‘Friend Map’ feature, which offers users a comprehensive world map displaying the locations of all their friends
- This upcoming addition to the platform was first uncovered by Alessandro Paluzzi, a well-known leaker who frequently reveals upcoming Instagram features
- The core concept of the Friend Map is simple: users will have the option to view the whereabouts of their Instagram friends. Importantly, this feature is opt-in, affording users control over which friends can view their location on the Friend Map
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Privacy and Security Measures
- Instagram assures users that their location data is fully encrypted end-to-end, with updates occurring only when the app is accessed. Additionally, a ‘Ghost mode’ will enable users to conceal their last active location
- Users will also have the ability to append notes to their location markers on the map, and any content shared with location tags will be visible on the map interface
Comparison With Snap Map
Instagram’s upcoming Friend Map feature bears a notable resemblance to Snapchat’s Snap Map functionality, which similarly allows users to track the locations of their friends on a map interface.
On Snapchat, friends’ locations are displayed alongside their Bitmoji avatars, offering users a visual representation of their friends’ whereabouts.
Future Prospects
As of now, Instagram has not provided any concrete details regarding the release date or official status of the Friend Map feature. However, given the platform’s propensity for experimentation with new features, it’s conceivable that the Friend Map could make its debut on Instagram soon.
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