How to Use Instagram Map and Set Your Location-Sharing Preferences
Instagram has rolled out a new feature, ‘Instagram Map,’ allowing users in the U.S. to share their recent active locations and discover location-based content. This update functions similarly to Snapchat’s Snap Map but with a key difference in location update frequency.
Your location on Instagram Map will only refresh when the app is actively open or running in the background, unlike Snap Map which can provide continuous, real-time updates depending on user settings. Meta has confirmed that location sharing is turned off by default, meaning your location is not shared unless you explicitly enable it.
Instagram head Adam Mosseri has reassured users that the feature is opt-in to address safety concerns. He noted that some users might be confused by the map populating with location information, explaining that this data is often pulled from Stories or Reels that already have a tagged location. While Instagram has long featured location tags, the new Map interface makes this information more readily accessible, potentially influencing users’ decisions on tagging locations in their posts.
How to Access Instagram Map
To access the Instagram Map, navigate to your direct messages (DMs) page. You will find a new ‘Map’ option available at the top. The first time you use the feature, a pop-up will explain that your location is only shared with those you choose and that your settings can be adjusted at any time.
How to Set Your Location-Sharing Preferences
Upon first opening the Map, you’ll be prompted to set your location-sharing preferences under ‘Who can see your location.’ You have the option to share with ‘Friends’ (mutual followers), your ‘Close Friends’ list, selected users, or ‘No one.’ This granular control allows you to manage your privacy effectively.
To modify these settings later, go to your profile, tap the settings icon (usually top-right), select ‘Story, live and location,’ and then choose ‘Location sharing.’ Here, you can update your preferences at any time. Importantly, even if you disable your own location sharing, you can still see the locations shared by friends who have enabled it.
Using Instagram Map for Discovery
Instagram Map allows you to see the locations of friends who are sharing their location with you. It also highlights location-based Stories and Reels from people you follow, making it easier to discover local content, events, or places.
For example, if a friend attends a local festival and posts a story, or if a creator shares a reel about a new restaurant, this content can appear on your map. You can continue to view such location-based content even if you have your own location sharing turned off.
The feature also supports ‘Notes’—short, ephemeral messages—which can now be posted on the map if shared with a specific location, adding a new interactive layer to location-based discovery.
