Instagram has launched a new feature called Instagram Map, which allows users to share their most recent active location with selected friends and discover location-based content, directly competing with Snapchat’s popular Snap Map feature. The Instagram Map updates locations only when users open the app and location sharing is off by default, emphasizing privacy; unlike Snap Map, which offers real-time location updates as an option. Users can share their location with specific groups such as Close Friends or mutual followers, and can also hide their last active location using “Ghost mode.”
Beyond location sharing, Instagram Map enables users to explore location-tied content such as friends’ stories from nearby events or creators’ reels about local spots. Users can leave short messages called “Notes” on the map, expanding the existing Instagram Notes feature to specific locations for friends to see.
Instagram also introduced reposts for public reels and posts, similar to Twitter’s retweet and TikTok’s repost features, allowing users to share content and add their own notes. Meanwhile, the “Friends” tab in Reels, now globally available, shows public reels that friends have engaged with, with privacy controls to opt out or mute specific accounts’ activity.
Instagram Map is rolling out in the U.S. starting August 6, 2025, with plans for broader global availability soon. Meta positions this feature as a privacy-conscious alternative to Snapchat’s Snap Map, appealing to users interested in location-based social discovery but with stricter sharing controls.