Instagram is taking steps to make connecting with friends and family easier by introducing a real-time location-sharing feature within its direct messaging platform.
This update, announced as part of Meta’s broader rollout of new Instagram features, allows users to share their live location for a limited time, helping to streamline plans and encourage in-person meetups.
The new location-sharing feature, designed with privacy in mind, operates within individual or group chats and is disabled by default. Users can choose to share their location for just one hour, after which sharing automatically ends, ensuring temporary visibility. Clear indicators in the app let users know when their location is being shared, offering an added layer of transparency.
Unlike Apple’s Find My app, which supports continuous location sharing, Instagram’s implementation focuses on short-term use, catering to casual social planning rather than constant tracking. Although Meta previously teased a map-based feature to locate friends, this latest tool represents a simpler, more controlled step in enhancing user interactions.
Instagram users will also notice additional updates aimed at improving direct messages, including fresh sticker packs and customizable nicknames in group chats.
