Instagram Friend Map Feature Launched in India; Raises Safety Concerns: How To Use It

Instagram Friend Map Feature: Instagram has launched a new feature called ‘Friend Map’. The new tool will enable users to see where their friends are in real-time, share hangout spots and discover common meeting places. The Meta-owned platform has added an option last week which shares locations using an Instagram map, similar to a feature rival Snapchat has offered since 2017. Instagram’s new feature is gradually rolling out worldwide, including India. Since it’s opt-in, your location won’t appear on the map unless you enable it in settings. The new feature is designed to help friends connect offline, explore local spots together, and plan spontaneous meetups. While it promotes fun social interactions and strengthens personal bonds, it also raises concerns about potential misuse for stalking by followers. How To Use Instagram Friend Map Feature Users can access the new feature from the Messages tab, but rest assured, location sharing is turned off by default unless manually enabled. Notably, the feature remains off unless users choose to opt in, according to Meta. Instagram Maps Icon Instagram shows different icons to let you know your location-sharing status. A blue arrow means you’re sharing your location. A red dot means you’re not sharing it.
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