How To Use Instagram Map And Protect Your Privacy

Following Wednesday’s launch of Instagram’s caller Snap Map-like opt-in “Instagram Map” characteristic — which lets U.S. users stock their astir caller progressive location pinch others and observe location-based contented — Instagram caput Adam Mosseri is having to reassure group that their location is only visible to others if they determine to stock it. Although Meta has made it clear that location sharing is disconnected by default, location person been galore posts on societal media urging users to move disconnected location sharing, incorrectly claiming that it’s automatically turned on.

“We’re double checking everything, but truthful acold it looks mostly for illustration group are confused and presume that, because they tin spot themselves connected nan representation erstwhile they open, different group tin spot them too,” Mosseri said successful a Threads post. “We’re still checking everything though to make judge cipher shares location without explicitly deciding to do so, which, by nan way, requires a double consent by creation (we inquire you to corroborate aft you opportunity you want to share).”

Mosseri besides said that immoderate people are “confused” astir really nan characteristic works. For instance, group are accessing nan characteristic and past seeing nan representation populated pinch nan location accusation of immoderate users. This is because nan characteristic automatically pulls successful location tags from precocious posted Stories aliases Reels that see a tagged location. 

It’s worthy noting that this isn’t new, arsenic Instagram already had location tags visible to users successful its representation view. However, nan caller Instagram Map characteristic makes this accusation a batch easier to access. The caller characteristic mightiness make you rethink whether you want to station your Stories and Reels pinch location tags (especially if you’re still astatine nan location).

If you move connected your location connected Instagram Map, your location only updates erstwhile you unfastened nan app aliases person it moving successful nan background, meaning it doesn’t supply continuous, real-time location updates. This is different from Snap Map, which lets users take whether their location is updated only erstwhile they unfastened nan app aliases successful existent time. 

For those who want to guarantee their location is turned disconnected connected Instagram Map, we’ll locomotion you done nan steps below. 

How to entree Instagram Map

Image Credits:Instagram

To entree nan caller feature, you request to navigate to your DMs page (direct messages) and pat nan caller “Map” action astatine nan top. If it’s your first clip accessing nan feature, you’ll apt spot a pop-up connection notifying you astir nan caller Map.

The pop-up will show you that nary 1 tin spot your location until you stock it pinch them, and that you tin alteration your settings astatine immoderate time. 

How to group your location-sharing preferences

Image Credits:Instagram

The first clip you unfastened Map, you will spot a page that sounds “Who tin spot your location.” From there, you tin take to stock it pinch your Friends (followers you travel back), your Close Friends list, prime users, aliases nary one. 

To alteration your preferences, you request to click connected your profile, pat nan settings action successful nan top-right corner, prime nan “Story, unrecorded and location” option, and past pat nan “Location sharing” button. Here, you will beryllium capable to alteration your settings. 

Note that if you person location sharing turned off, others tin still stock their location pinch you, which intends you’ll beryllium capable to spot them connected nan Map. 

How to usage Instagram Map

When you unfastened nan app, you will spot nan locations of friends who person shared their location pinch you. You will besides spot location-based Stories and Reels from group you follow. 

For example, if your friend attended a adjacent euphony show and posted a communicative while there, it will look connected nan map. Similarly, if a creator you travel posts a reel astir a caller edifice successful your city, you’ll beryllium capable to observe it connected Instagram Map. 

You will still spot location-based contented connected nan Map moreover if you person your location turned off. 

You besides tin time off short, ephemeral messages, aliases “Notes,” connected nan representation for others to see. Instagram Notes are nan short messages that presently look astatine nan apical of your nonstop messaging feed, but pinch nan motorboat of Instagram Map, you will now spot these posts connected nan representation if they’re shared pinch a location.

This communicative was updated pinch caller information.