The Friend Map feature lets your friends see where you are and where you are, with all posts and stories tagged with a topic added to the map screen.
Instagram is developing the "Friend Map" feature. Snapchat's Snap Map-like connectivity feature will allow users to see their friends' locations in real-time. The company says this feature is an internal prototype and is not being tested overseas.
If Instagram plans to officially launch Friend Map, it will copy another popular feature from Snapchat after cloning the app's core Stories functionality in 2016. Instagram will also introduce a Find me feature that will allow Apple and users to see where their friends and family are right now.
According to screenshots posted on Threads, Instagram's "Friend Map" will let users choose who can see their location. The screenshots also show that location data will be end-to-end encrypted. You can choose to share your location with followers, your "Closed friends" list, or no one. The map will also feature a “Ghost Mode” setting that hides your last active location.
"Friend Map" will allow users to leave short messages or "Notes" on the map for others to see. Instagram Notes are currently short messages that appear directly at the top of your messaging feed, but if Friend Map is enabled, users will have the option to map these short updates. The Notes functionality on the map can be used to do things like let your friends know about a fun pop-up shop you came across or a new restaurant you're currently eating at.
