Instagram Friend Map Feature: Meta -owned photo and short video platform Instagram has quietly introduced its new Friend Map feature in India. This tool allows users to see the real-time location of their friends, share hangout spots and find a place to meet common. Its concept is somewhat like Snapchat’s Snap Map. Although it has been designed to increase offline connection between friends, but due to this, questions are also being raised about privacy and safety.
Friend Map’s objective
3. Share locations with friends and see what’s happening around you on the Instagram map 🗺️💞
And if you’re a parent with supervision set up for your teen, you have control over whether they can share their location, and who they’re sharing with.
(Available in some countries) pic.twitter.com/cMPpl9j20t
— Instagram (@instagram) August 6, 2025
META says that the purpose of this feature is to motivate friends to get offline, help in finding new locations around and make sudden meetings easier. It has been introduced as a fun social tool, which can strengthen personal connections. But through this, followers can also track someone’s movement, so that it is a risk of converting it into a stocking tool.
Friend Map’s features
Real-time location sharing: Only when the user has turned on it.
App and content-based tracking: The recent location is saved when opening the Instagram or tagging the location in the post/story.
Location History: Repeated check-in can bring your movement and pattern of favorite places.
META Integration: Works by linking to the data of Facebook and Messenger.
How to use it on your phone?
- Go to the Messages section of Instagram and start the Friend Map option.
- In the location sharing settings, decide who can see your location.
- If you want, you can share the location or close it completely.
This feature is currently being rolled out in some countries, including India, at the moment. By default it will remain closed, until you turn it on.
What will be the use of users?
- Easy to plan a meatup with friends around.
- Search for new and common hangout spots.
- More interactive and social experience on Instagram.
Increased concern of privacy
According to security experts, this feature is as convenient as it can be as dangerous.
Physical Risk: Stocking, harassing or getting information about getting away from home.
Digital exploitation: Use of data for targeted advertisements, scams and profiles.
Data leaks: The previous data leak cases of Meta show that location data may be attractive to hackers.
Lack of encryption: The location data is not end-to-end encrypted, so that meta and cyber criminals can access it.
Meta’s vision regarding Instagram
META now wants to make Instagram not only a photo-sharing app but also a social hub that also promotes real-life connection. By adding location data to its ecosystem, the company not only wants to increase the interaction but also to strengthen the targeted advertisement. However, this raises the question as to where the right balance between convenience and privacy will be made.
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