Instagram Brings Snap Map-Like Location Sharing to Users in India
Instagram is rolling out its long-awaited location sharing feature in India, similar to Snapchat’s Snap Map. This feature allows users to share their real-time location with friends, making it easier to stay connected and coordinate meetups.
According to Instagram’s blog, the feature is designed to “spend more time together, and less time coordinating.” Users can use it to organize arrival times or find friends in crowded places, all directly from Instagram conversations.
How Instagram Map Works in India
The India launch comes with several tweaks based on user feedback. The feature will gradually roll out to both iOS and Android users. Users can share their location with a single friend or a group in DMs. Only members of the chat can see the location, and it cannot be forwarded to other conversations.
An indicator will appear at the top of the chat to show location sharing, but it will not display the user’s profile photo, ensuring privacy. For teen accounts, parents will be notified when the feature is turned on, and users can manage location preferences in settings.
While Instagram has borrowed features from Snapchat over the years, location sharing has been notably absent from the platform until now. It debuted globally earlier this year and is now available in India and other regions.
Focus on Reels
In addition to location sharing, Instagram is testing a “Reels-first mobile experience” in India. This new update encourages users to engage more with short videos, which are central to Instagram’s content and ad strategy. The feature is currently being tested with a limited group of users and will roll out publicly in the coming months.
