Instagram’s latest feature is a clear attempt to rival Snapchat’s Snap Maps, offering users a new way to share their location-based updates with friends. This new feature allows users to post text and video updates directly to a map, where friends’ updates can appear alongside each other. While this might sound familiar to Snap Maps users, Instagram’s version seems to place more emphasis on privacy, offering options to share updates only with specific groups like “Close Friends” or mutual followers.
This feature is currently being tested in select markets and remains an opt-in tool, meaning users have control over their location sharing. Instagram has stressed that safety is a priority in the development of this feature, but concerns about privacy and the potential for broader location sharing still linger. Instagram’s history of borrowing from competitors is well-documented; from Stories, which mirrored Snapchat, to Reels inspired by TikTok, and now this location-based feature echoing Snap Maps.
Back in 2012, Instagram experimented with a similar concept by allowing users to view all their photos on a private map. However, this feature was discontinued in 2016 due to low usage. Now, with this new feature, the platform might be hoping to breathe new life into the idea of location-based sharing. The platform’s approach seems more cautious, with stricter privacy controls than Snapchat, possibly making it more appealing to users who prefer to prioritize safety.
It remains to be seen how Instagram will distinguish this feature from Snap Maps beyond its privacy focus. To truly stand out, the platform may need to introduce innovative elements like interactive features, gamification, or deeper integration with other Instagram functions to captivate users and foster long-term engagement.
As Instagram continues to test this feature, its ultimate success in gaining widespread adoption is uncertain. If successful, it could fundamentally alter how users interact with the app, elevating location-based sharing to a more prominent aspect of the Instagram experience.
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