Instagram Tries Content Sharing Feature Via Maps, Similar To Snap Maps

JAKARTA Instagram is testing a new feature similar to Snap Maps, a tool for sharing content through a map on Snapchat. This feature does not yet have a name on Instagram and is being tested on multiple users. How the feature works is the same as Snap Maps. Instagram users can upload text or videos to users at a given location. Even though the way it works is the same, Meta Spokesperson Christine Pai says that this feature has better privacy on Instagram. Before sharing the desired content, users must choose the group that receives it first. "(users can choose) Close friends or only followers they follow back," Pai said, quoted from The Verge. Pai explained that this feature is optional. That is, users can choose to use the feature or not. In addition, users do not need to worry about its security even though this feature can access their location.

"As usual, we built this feature taking security into account," Pai said. The spokesperson did not provide more detailed information about its features, such as what the name of the app will be used and whether a version of the public sharing would be available. In February, several developers saw this new feature under the name Friends Map. The tool for sharing content to this particular location is integrated with the Notes feature. There has been no news from Meta whether this tool still uses the name Friends Map. Meta did not explain where this idea came from, but the feature looks exactly like Snapchat's idea. This is not the first time Instagram has imitated a feature from another big platform. They have created Reels due to TikTok and created Threads similar to Twitter.