Instagram to Introduce Snap Map-Like Feature: What You Need to Know
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Loading... - Aziza Hamdy
- 15 Aug 2024
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Instagram is reportedly testing a new location-based feature that allows users to share real-time updates on a map, similar to Snapchat's Snap Maps. The feature, which has been in development since February 2023, is currently being trialed in select small markets.
The new feature enables users to share text or video updates that are pinned to specific locations on a map. Only users who have been added to your Close Friends list or those you follow back will be able to see the updates. The updates from friends will also appear on the same map in proximity to each other.
Unlike Snapchat's Snap Maps, which allows users to share map updates publicly, Instagram's feature prioritizes privacy. The updates will only be visible to friends, likely for safety reasons. A Meta spokesperson confirmed that safety has been a key focus in developing this feature.
While the feature bears similarities to Snap Maps, there are some key differences:
- Instagram's feature is limited to friends, whereas Snap Maps allows public sharing.
- It's unclear how long the updates will stay live on the map, whereas Snap Maps updates are typically available for 24 hours.
This isn't the first time Instagram has borrowed features from its competitors. In 2012, Instagram experimented with a map feature that displayed users' uploaded photos, but it was discontinued in 2016 due to limited use. More recently, Instagram introduced Reels, inspired by TikTok, and Stories, inspired by Snapchat.
Instagram's approach to replicating features from competitors has sparked criticism in the tech world. Elon Musk, CEO of X (formerly Twitter), has accused Instagram's Threads of being a copycat app of Twitter, even threatening legal action over alleged intellectual property violations.
It's unclear when the feature will be rolled out to all Instagram users, but it's likely to be a gradual process. As with any new feature, Instagram will need to balance user experience with privacy concerns. One thing is certain, however: Instagram's continued adoption of competitor features will keep the tech world watching.
