Instagram is rolling out a new feature called the Instagram Map, designed to help users stay connected with friends and discover posts based on location. But while the tool might make it easier to see what’s happening nearby, it’s also raising questions about privacy.
What the Instagram Map Does
The new map lets you share your last active location with people you follow and who follow you back. You can choose who sees your location—whether it’s all friends, just Close Friends, a few selected people, or no one at all. By default, location sharing is turned off, and you have to manually opt in to use it.
Instagram says you’re in control. You can stop sharing at any time, block certain places from showing your location, and even hide your location from specific friends. But if you do turn it on, your location updates automatically whenever you open the app or come back to it after it’s been running in the background.
Why Some People Are Concerned
Any time a social app tracks where you are, privacy questions come up. Even though you control who sees your location, automatic updates can be easy to forget about. If you leave location sharing on, you might be sharing more than you realize—especially if you’re using the app often.
Parents of teens also have some tools to manage how the feature is used. If a parent has supervision set up through Instagram, they’ll get a notification if their teen starts sharing their location. They can also see who the teen is sharing it with and even block the feature entirely. But these controls only work if the supervision feature is turned on in the first place.
Even Without Sharing, Your Posts Can Still Show Up
Location sharing is optional—but tagging your posts with a location is not new. What’s different now is that anything you tag with a location—reels, posts, stories, and even notes—can show up on the Instagram Map if your followers are looking at that area. These posts stay on the map for 24 hours.
This might be great for discovering events or cool spots nearby, but it’s another reason to think twice before adding a location tag. Some users may not realize just how much visibility that gives their content.
What to Keep in Mind
Instagram says the map is a “lightweight way to connect,” and it does offer a new way to see what friends are up to or what’s trending locally. However, like any feature that tracks your location, it’s essential to understand what you’re sharing and who can view it.
If you decide to try the Instagram Map, take a moment to explore the privacy settings first. Location sharing can be helpful in some situations, but it’s not for everyone—and it’s always okay to turn it off.
The feature is now available in the U.S. and will be rolling out to more countries soon.
