Instagram has announced a new feature that allows users to share their real-time location with friends and family. Similar to WhatsApp’s live location sharing and Apple’s “Find My” app, this feature is currently being rolled out in select countries. So, how does live location sharing work?

Instagram Rolls Out Location Sharing Feature

Firstly, it’s worth noting that this new feature can only be used in individual chats and group conversations. Shared locations are limited to one hour and expire automatically once the time is up. Additionally, the app provides a visual notification indicating when location sharing starts and ends, keeping users informed at all times.

Unlike Apple’s Find My app, which offers continuous location sharing, Instagram does not have a persistent location-sharing option. Although Meta has previously been known to work on a map-based friend location sharing feature similar to Snapchat’s Snap Map, this system has yet to be launched

In addition to these changes, Instagram has introduced other updates to enhance the messaging experience. Users can now assign custom nicknames to each other in group chats and use new sticker packs in their messages.

The location-sharing feature and other updates are currently available only in select countries. Efforts are underway to make these features accessible globally. If the feature is not yet available to you, it’s a good idea to check if you’re using the latest version of the app from time to time.